The Hindu : New Delhi News : IIT returns Dow Chemical’s funds

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Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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IIT returns Dow Chemical’s funds

Staff Reporter

Decision supported by Bhopal gas survivors

IIT-Madras urged to bar DC from recruiting on-campus
Plan to stonewall DC at every step of its way

NEW DELHI: Responding to the calls of the Indian Institute of Technology alumni, students and supporters of the struggle for justice for the Bhopal gas victims, IIT Delhi has decided to return Dow Chemical’s sponsorship for a three-day international conference to be organised by the Institute’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

The decision to bar the company from sponsoring the event was taken at a meeting between supporters of Bhopal gas survivors and authorities at the Institute here on Friday. The sponsorship amount is not known.

“IITs have sent a resounding response to Dow Chemical that they can keep their blood-tainted money to themselves,” said Magsaysay Award winner and IIT alumni Arvind Kejriwal.

“We are looking forward to stonewalling Dow Chemical at every step of its way. I’m glad our students and youth had more sense than the elders in the Government,” he said.

Earlier, more than 1,000 alumni and former faculty members signed a petition addressed to the directors of all IITs urging them to bar Dow Chemical from any partnership or role in the premier institutes. Learning of Dow Chemical’s plans to recruit from IIT-Madras, students and 22 faculties signed a petition urging the director to bar the company from recruiting on-campus.

“A similar petition was signed by more than 300 students and faculty in IIT-Bombay. Both IITs cancelled the pre-placement talks scheduled for Dow Chemical without giving reasons. Learning of the plans by the controversial company, IIT-Kharagpur decided not to invite Dow Chemical for recruitment. The Chemical Engineering Department, which had sought sponsorship from Dow Chemical for a departmental cultural festival, decided against seeking support this year despite a paucity of funds,” said a release issued by the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.

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