Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad students started a Campus Cleanliness Drive as #CCD on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Through #CCD, students want to raise a voice to convert ISM into an IIT by May, 2016.
ISM was assured to get the status of an IIT in the 2015 budget session by the BJP government. But so far, nothing substantial has happened on this front. When ISM was not mentioned in the financial budget of 2016, the student community of the institute decided to take a step. Ayush Kedia, President of the ISM Student Society (ISS), said, “We were informed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) that by May 2016, ISM will be conferred the status of an IIT. With the help of #CCD we would like to bring this issue to the notice of the government in a hope that they fasten the process of conversion.”
According to Kedia, #CCD is a social cause that was taken up as an extension of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The drive was started after Dhanbad was ranked last in the Swachh Survekshan conducted recently by the government. Through this drive, the students want to upgrade the status of Dhanbad city to suit the brand of an IIT.
Though #CCD started with ISM’s campus, it also took place in Birsa Institute of Technology (BIT), Dhanbad today. Kedia further added, “This cleanliness drive is not just a one day routine, we want all academic institutes to gradually take part in it.” In the past three days, about 3,000 students have taken part in #CCD. Students are posting ‘before and after’ photos on Facebook to show the difference after cleaning.
While many students at ISM were cleaning the campus, there were some students who restricted themselves to their rooms only. Another student from ISM, said, “I wanted to start by cleaning my personal spaces. Hence, I first cleaned my own room, something I usually do only once in a blue moon.”
Prof Chandan Bhar, Dean of Student Welfare at ISM, said, “The institute is in communication with the MHRD for upgrading its status to an IIT. If students feel their drive can fasten this process, then be it. It will bring no harm to anyone, moreover, it will lead to a cleaner city.”
Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister for HRD will be visiting the institute as the Chief Guest on ISM’s 37 Annual Convocation. Bhar added, “Institute’s Director, Prof D C Panigrahi, is likely to bring up this issue with the Minister, either in his speech or through personal conversation.”
Logo of #CCD