National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021- Free PDF Download

Table of Contents

Why in NEWS?

Recently, Parliament has passed the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021.
The Bill declares certain institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship, and management as institutions of national importance.
these institutions are separate autonomous bodies exclusively on food processing sector, and provide solutions to the challenges faced by stakeholders of the sector, including farmers.
The Bill therefore seeks to enable these institutes to exercise functional autonomy and start new innovative courses and to provide for instructions and research in food technology, entrepreneurship and management.
With this, two educational institutes,
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) Kundali, Haryana and
Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries became Institutions of National Importance (INI).

providing for instruction, research, and knowledge dissemination in the field of food science and technology
holding examinations and granting degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions or titles
determining and collecting fees and other charges
instituting and making appointments for academic and other posts, except that of the Director
Taking administrative policy decisions;
Examining and approving annual budget estimates and development plans;
Establishing departments, faculties or schools of studies, and initiating courses or programmes of study;
The Bill provides for a Board of Governors, which will be the principal executive body of the institute. The Board will be responsible for the general superintendence, direction, and control of the affairs of the institute.
It also provides for a Senate which will be the institute’s principal academic body. It will be responsible for maintenance of standards of instruction, education, and examination in the institute.
The Bill provides for the establishment of a Council for coordinating activities of all institutes and facilitating interactions for performance improvement.

Its functions include laying down the policy framework for functioning of the institutes, and reviewing the achievement of policy objectives, among others.
Funds: The Bill requires each institute to maintain a fund for meeting its expenses.
It will be credited with funds received from the central government and other sources, including fees and other charges.
The accounts of each institute will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Settlement of disputes: Under the Bill, any dispute arising out of a contract between the institute and any of its employees will be referred to a Tribunal of Arbitration.
The Tribunal will consist of an institute appointee, a nominee of the concerned employee, and an umpire appointed by the central government.
The decision of the Tribunal will be considered final, after which the matter cannot be raised in any civil court.

The Central Government grants the status of ‘Institute of National Importance’ to premier higher educational institutions in India through an act of the Parliament.
According to the Ministry of Education, an institute of national importance is an institute that “serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state”.
Such institutes get special funding and recognition from the Government of India.
The first reference to ‘institute of national importance’ is given in the Constitution of India, Seventh Schedule.