CF-IITK Communications
23 August 2020: CF Writes to IITK.
From: Citizens' Forum, IITK
Date: Sunday, 23 August 2020, 2:47 AM
Subject: Appeal from IITK Alumni Citizens Forum
To: Director, IITK
Dear Prof. Karandikar,
Please find enclosed a letter with an appeal from Citizens Forum of IITK Alumni. We thank you for your kind consideration.
Sushil Handa
Batch of 1966
Attachment: Letter Director Covid Workers Help.pdf
On 28 August 2020: CF further connects (phone and a short email) to IITK requesting further progress, to which the following response was received:
From: DORA, IITK
To: Citizens' Forum, IITK
Cc: Director, IITK; Dean of Administration, IITK; Sakshi Gulati; Archit Goel
Date: August 28, 2020 at 3:00 AM
Subject: Re: Appeal from IITK Alumni Citizens Forum
Dear Mr. XXXX,
I trust you and your family are doing fine. I received your document seeking to raise funds for contract workers. Student Gymkhana has already done some work in this direction, and soon my office will launch a site through which we can collect the funds (from faculty and others). We will circulate the link among the well-wishers of IIT Kanpur to support the cause.
My office will share the link with you sometime next week.
Best wishes,
Dean of Resources and Alumni
On 20th September 2020 we write to IITK again since the communication suggested above did not come through.
From: Citizens' Forum, IITK.
To: DORA, IITK
Cc: Director, IITK; Dean of Administration, IITK; Sakshi Gulati; Archit GoelDear Prof. Singh,
Date: September 20, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: Appeal from IITK Alumni Citizens Forum
We hope you and your family are well.
We remain concerned about the plight of contract workers who find themselves without work and wages to support their families during this pandemic. We are writing to follow up on your correspondence 3 weeks ago. Given that the situation is precarious for these workers & their families, we are wondering as to where are we in setting up a process. We sincerely hope that it will be put in place as soon as possible. We are also hoping that IITK administration will make a significant contribution to such a fund.
on behalf of IITK Citizens Forum
20th September 2020: A reply was received the same day.
From: Director, IITK
To: Citizens' Forum, IITK; DORA, IITK
Cc: Sakshi Gulati; Dean Administration; Archit Goel
Date: September 20, 2020 at 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: Appeal from IITK Alumni Citizens Forum
Dear XXXX,
It has been already launched-
https://iitk.ac.in/dora/givingback/campus-worker.php.
Regarding institute administration, we already gave Rs 1.7 crore from
institute funds for salaries of mess workers when the mess has been
closed since March. It will not be possible for institute to contribute
any more as institute's funding position itself is very tight.
Of-course, faculty can contribute individually. Btw, both I and Jayant
have donated Rs 1 lakh each for Students laptop drive where we could
support 260 aboslutely needy students. I will contribute individually
again but even I have limitation as I do not work in corporate sector -:)
- Director, IITK
20th October 2020: CF writes to IITK again, in the context of feedback we received from campus community that several workers are likely left out from the process.
From: Citizens' Forum, IITK
To: Director, IITK
Cc: DORA, IITK
Date: October 20, 2020 at 11:08 AM
Subject: Re: Appeal from IITK Alumni Citizens Forum
Dear XXXX,
Thank you for your response.
We are pleased to learn of the Institutes’ effort to help the campus workers who have been forced into unemployment for no fault of their own. The link which has been setup works well.
The website mentions 373 workers who will benefit from that fund. We are wondering as to how have these workers been selected ? We wonder if there may not be even more workers of this kind on the campus and we hope that in this process no workers will be left out. We would be very interested to know this. We are also wondering if it would be worthwhile to publish the names of these workers on the website, of course only if they give their consent. This may further encourage donors to support a worthwhile cause.
The relevant page also mentions that the Institute will also work on helping all the Mess workers. We applaud this decision very much. What would be the mechanism set up that will ensure this, could you please share with us ?
We urge our alma mater to please discuss various issues with the workers to obtain their point of view. We believe this would help better achieve all stakeholders' goals.
Please do not hesitate to contact us since we are always happy to cooperate on the workers’ issues.
Sincerely
On behalf of IITK Citizens’ Forum