BREWING ANGER IN CSIR

Scientists Allege Witchunt

Dinesh Chandra

WIDESPREAD demoralisation among scientists has severely hit research work in the prestigious national laboratories under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) network. Anomalies in salary structure, alleged favouritism, absence of proper grievance redressal machinery, victimisation and tightening “stranglehold of bureaucracy” has totally demotivated the scientific community.

The dismal situation prevails as a continuation of the reign of terror let loose in the period of Dr Murli Manohar Joshi.

According to sources, Dr S N Sharma, president of the representative body of the scientists, the All-India CSIR Scientific Workers Association (CSIR-SWA), has been slapped a show cause notice by the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), where he works,  asking him to explain why has he sent a  representation to the union minister, Kapil Sibal, who is also the CSIR vice president. Similar notices have been sent to other office-bearers of the association. 

In his representation to the minister on behalf of the CSIR-SWA, Dr Sharma has apprised  the minister of the attempts by the bosses at the institutes under the CSIR to block communication channel between the CSIR vice president (the minister) and the scientific community.

During their meeting with the minister, the association representatives pointed out that though there is a new dispensation at the centre now,  things have not changed at the CSIR. The CSIR management put in place by Sibal’s predecessor Dr  Murli Manohar Joshi and Director-General Mashelkar had  “consistently adopted anti-employee stand and completely shunned any dialogue with the association resulting in their complete alienation with the scientific community.”

Seeking due recognition of the SWA, they also told him that the  Joshi-Mashelkar combine  had “derecognised the CSIR-SWA with the object of stifling the voice of scientific community and having a free hand in ruining the CSIR.”

The scientists are agitated as several appointments to the post of directors of various CSIR laboratories made during the previous regime were allegedly “irregular”. Several persons devoid of scientific temperament have, according to them, been put at the helm of affairs of CSIR like members of CSIR Advisory Council and Governing Body.

They also point out that the “faulty” policy of CSIR management is turning the CSIR laboratories into testing laboratories serving the interests of multinational corporations rather than producing globally competitive technologies. The external cash flow (ECF), which has been stagnating for the last many years, is cited as evidence.

“DIVINE DISPENSATION”

During their meeting with the minister, the scientists also told him that due to the “worst” man-management in the CSIR history during the last 6-7 years, the morale of the scientific community is at its “lowest ebb” adding that “corruption at high places was being protected whereas the conscientious scientists were maltreated.”

The scientists are also demotivated by reduction in the parity of their pay scales with those of IITs and UGC  as existed a few pay commissions back.  They also find the promotion policy which puts a “very high premium on confidential report” revolting as it stunts “creativity and innovation”.

The association has demanded a  high-level probe into all committee appointments and appointments of directors of various labs and institutes and top management functionaries of the CSIR during 1998-2003 and remedial action to restore the confidence of the “oppressed scientists”

It has also demanded that the CSIR management prepare  proposals for new societal technology missions.  An “approach paper should be prepared to take note of the lessons that must be drawn by the S and T and line departments out of the past failures in regard to the implementation of these missions.”

(INN)