Financial Support

1. Introduction

The coming decades of the 21^st century are indeed challenging. The process of liberalization of the Indian economy has made industry increasingly conscious of the need for manpower trained in science and technology. This places demands on the higher education system to improve quality of education in science and technology. This will be made possible by making more investments in strengthening of infrastructure for teaching and research, and improving administrative efficiency at all levels. The UGC has recognized the possible impact of these changes and has, along with other funding agencies, initiated a number of programmes in the recent past. These programmes have permitted university departments to acquire sophisticated instruments for their research and general laboratory instruments for teaching. The Commission has also recognized the importance of information technology and has set in motion the computerization of administrative functions and automation of libraries in the universities. Con sequently, our universities and colleges have a sizeable pool of instruments and modern electronic hardware, which will increase with time and will therefore need to be properly maintained for their efficient and effective use. The Commission is of the opinion that the higher education system should prepare itself to meet challenges concomitant to the process of the strengthening of the infrastructure. The emphasis is on building capacity to maintain instruments and modern electronic hardware in the higher education system.

The UGC has decided to establish units called INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE FACILITIES (IMFs) to support the efforts in improving science education at all levels in universities, autonomous colleges and colleges imparting post-graduate instructions. Under this scheme, the UGC will provide essential tools/equipment for repair and maintenance of electronic hardware, as well as qualified staff according to the assessed workload decided by the size of the pool of such instruments and electronic hardware in the institution. The UGC also recognizes the need to extend this scheme to as many institutions as possible and yet maintain efficiency in providing the service. The IMFs will be networked with each other and with the office of the Commission to permit the exchange of experience and ideas as well as a close monitoring of the scheme.

1. To encourage universities, autonomous colleges, post-graduate colleges to establish an Instrument Maintenance Facility (IMF) as an essential support infrastructure to provide effective and efficient maintenance to their scientific instruments and electronic hardware.

2. To provide adequate resources as developmental inputs to appoint staff and procure tools/equipments for repairs and maintenance of scientific instruments and electronic hardware

3. To maximize efficiency through need-based training and documentation in the repair and maintenance of scientific instruments and electronic hardware.

4. To connect the units so established in the country with each other using information technology so that they can improve their performance through an exchange of each other_s experience and ideas.

5. To monitor the working of the scheme for its effectiveness and accountability to the users, such as students, teachers, etc.

B. Instrument Maintenance Facility (IMF)

The scheme proposes to provide a coordinated system of IMFs in universities, autonomous and post-graduate colleges to provide repairs and maintenance of scientific instruments and electronic hardware like PCs and their accessories. The assistance from the UGC for technical staff and equipment will be based on a detailed survey of the instruments and electronic hardware already available in these institutions. The IMFs are expected to provide preventive maintenance on a regular basis and repairs or curative maintenance to instruments and electronic hardware that have been placed under its care by the users.

An elaborate user-countersigned format will document the accountability of the IMF. It will record the action taken to maintain each equipment. The consolidated information of activity of the IMF will be provided to the UGC office electronically on monthly basis. The IMF staff will be trained at Regional Instrumentation Centres (RICs) and other centres around the country, and in new techniques and procedures whenever such a need arises. The IMFs will be encouraged to adopt an ethos of teamwork, accountability and user-sensitivity that would lead them to acquire an ISO-9000 certification.

C. Objectives of IMF

1. The primary objective of the IMF is to provide effective and economical services in the repair and maintenance of scientific instruments and electronic hardware.

2. The IMF shall strive to satisfy the users of instruments and electronic hardware regarding the quality of the service.

3. The IMF shall provide facilities for staff development through training and opportunities to exchange experience with other IMFs and centres providing similar services around the country.

* Technical Officer - One

Minimum Qualification : B.E./B.Tech or equivalent in Instrumentation/ Electronics with at least 3 years experience in repairs and maintenance of instruments.

Consolidated Salary : Rs.10,000/- p.m.,

** #. Technician - Two

Minimum Qualification : Diploma or equivalent (in Instrumentation/Electronics) with 3 years experience or ITI or equivalent (Instrumentation/Electronics) with 5 years experience in repairs and maintenance of instruments.

Consolidated Salary : Rs.8,000/- p.m.

# These will be contractual appointments for a period of five years.

B. Non-recurring

1. Monitoring at the institution level through a formatted document on repairs and maintenance activities by the IMF staff.
   
   

2. The progress of the scheme will be monitored through monthly reports consolidated for each year and assessed by experts.
   
   

3. The Commission at the end of two years will evaluate the scheme.