Kerala - Kozhikode   

STED project director fails to get extension

By Biju Govind

KOZHIKODE, JAN. 27. T.K. Manzoor, project director, Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development (STED), has not been granted an extension of service. This is despite the Chief Secretary and the Science and Technology Secretary recommending another three-year term for him.

Sources told The Hindu here today that orders had been issued by the Chief Minister's Office directing the Kozhikode Collector, Rachna Shah, to temporarily take charge of the post from Friday. The decision comes even after the steering committee of the STED with the Chief Secretary as Chairman, the Task Force Committee, headed by the collector, and the recently appointed Science, Technology and Environment Council vice-president, A.E. Muthunayagam, recommending the case of Mr. Manzoor.

Mr. Manzoor had been instrumental in designing the Akshaya-Bridging the Divide campaign during the first phase of its implementation in Malappuram district, conceiving the Vazhiyoram project for the Tourism Department and drafting proposals for the development of the Marad seaside village. The recommendations pointed out that these ongoing projects would be hit if Mr. Manzoor was not at the helm of STED.

He has not been granted an extension on the ground of his contract term ending on Thursday. It is learnt that a Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee office-bearer from Kozhikode and a close confidant of the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy was behind the decision against granting Mr. Manzoor another term.

Autonomous institution

Sources said the Government wanted to convert the STED Project into an autonomous institution with a chairman as head and a managing director. The project, which started functioning in 1985 under the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board, was sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology of the Union Government. Later, the project was supported jointly by the Union and the State governments.

Self-reliant

At present, the project is self-reliant without depending on the Government for grants. It has been generating revenue from training and consultancy activities in entrepreneurship development.

This has enabled it to meet administrative expenses, pay salaries to its 150-odd employees in its 15 offices in the State and save for future developments.

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STED project director fails to get extension

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