The Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur was established in 1967. National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) is established in 2012. The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021 declares the above two institutes as National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management. The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021 was introduced in the House in February 2019 and passed in Rajya Sabha on 15th March 2021. The bill wasn’t given required attention in Lok Sabha due to a lot of disputes arising out of other proceedings. However, it was duly discussed and passed by Lok Sabha on 26th July 2021.
Functions of the Institutes:
The bill is passed with the aim that these institutes practice functional autonomy. It also enables the institutes to introduce courses and degrees related to food science and technology with distinctions and titles and urges to pursue research for the same. Each Institute shall strive to raise funds for self-sufficiency and sustainability and shall be a not-for-profit legal entity.
Board of Governors:
The Principal Executive Body of the institute will be the Board of Governors whose constitution, powers, functions, responsibilities and duties are all provided by the bill. The board will consist of 16 members including - (i) a chairperson, who is a distinguished person in the field of food science, technology or management, or other such field, (ii) the Director, Dean, Registrar, and faculty members, (iii) representatives of central and state governments, (iv) representatives of FSSAI and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and (v) representatives of the food processing industry. Subject to the provisions of this bill, the Board of Governors will be responsible for the general superintendence, direction and control of the affairs of the Institute. The functions as given in the bill include- exercising administrative control; examining and approving the financial matters i.e., the annual budget and sources; establishing of various institutes, departments, food processing centres etc all after approval of the Central Government; innovating and introducing certified courses, honorary awards and other distinctions; delegating the duties of the members; evaluating and reviewing the performance of the institute once in every three years.
The Senate:
The Senate shall be the principal academic body of the Institute, consisting of the following persons, namely- the director, the registrar, all full-time faculty and others members as laid down in the statutes. The Senate of an Institute shall have the control and general regulation, and be responsible for the maintenance of standards of instruction, education and examination in the Institute.
Statutes and Ordinances:
It provides for the framing of Statutes and Ordinances for each institute with guidelines regarding administrative and academic matters. The Statutes and Ordinances will be framed by the Board and the Senate, respectively. The first Statute of each institute will be framed by the Council with the previous approval of the central government.
Settlement of Dispute:
The Bill also provides for procedure of Arbitration in case of any dispute arising out of contracts between parties and the institutes. The constitution of the tribunal, the enforceability of the award passed and the power and functions of the tribunal are given in the bill.
The Council:
The bill provides to set up a Council whose general function is to co-ordinate the activities of all the Institutes and facilitate the sharing of experiences, ideas and concerns with a view to enhance the performance of the Institutes. The council will consist of 13 members including the (i) the Minister of Food Processing Industries as the Chairperson, (ii) the Minister of the State for Food Processing Industries, (iii) representatives of the ministries related to food processing, higher education, and finance, (iv) the Chairperson, FSSAI, (v) the CEO, NITI Aayog, and (vi) three industry representatives and three academicians from the field of food processing. The central body to be called the council will be established as per the date given by the Central Government. The Bill also provides for the Term of office of, vacancies among, and allowances payable to members of Council.
Finance, Accounts and Audit:
As per the provisions of the bill the Central Government will, after due appropriation made by Parliament, pay to each of the Institute in each financial year such sums of money and in such manner as it may think fit. Each institute must maintain a fund of all the money received by the institute by way of grants by government; gifts, donations, benefactions; fees and charges or any other manner or from any other source. The institute shall maintain proper accounts and relevant records of all transactions and prepare an annual statement in such a manner as prescribed by the Central Government.
This bill seeks to provide copious opportunities to the institutes, by giving them the status of Institute of National Importance (INI), to pave the way for the creation of skilled manpower; provide knowledge and resources to people willing to explore the field of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management by adopting global standards in research and academic work. It also enables to assist the institutes to improve themselves by creating and upgrading to be at par to the IITs and IIMs. The terms of bill ensure proper working of the institutes. It aims to enhance and grow the Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management industry by giving the institutes greater autonomy by so they can start new and innovative courses.