The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed a Bill that seeks to accord the status of institute of national importance to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research, and also set up an advisory council for them. The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Upper House by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. It was passed by a voice vote. While introducing Bill, Mandaviya said the NIPERs would be governed on the lines of the IITs.
The Bill, cleared by Lok Sabha on December 6, seeks to accord institute of national importance status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research, start new courses and set up an advisory council. It was introduced in the Lower House in March this year and referred, thereafter, to the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers.
It seeks to amend the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998, which established the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) at Mohali in Punjab and declared it as an Institution of National Importance.
With the amendment, six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research will be declared as institutions of national importance. These are located in Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Raebareli. It also proposes to bring down the membership of the board of governors mandated to manage the affairs at each NIPER from the current 23 to 12.
Participating in the debate, Neeraj Dangi of the Congress said state governments should also get a place in the council of board of governors of the NIPERs. Fellow Congress MP L Hanumanthaiah said an "over-centralisation of power and lack of autonomy" is seen in the Bill.
Sushil Kumar Gupta of the AAP suggested that there should be a minimum educational qualification criteria for MPs who are to be a part of the NIPER board, while RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha said they should have medical and pharma background.
Taking part in the discussion, Abdul Wahab of the IUML, while "wholeheartedly" supporting the Bill, said, "All the Bills from the government should be like this so that you can pass hundreds of Bills...The problem is they are getting some Bills which nobody can accept. So this Bill we are all accepting."
Supporting the Bill, Ram Nath Thakur of the JD(U) called for setting up of more NIPERs, while M Thambidurai of the AIADMK questioned the role of the AICTE in the NIPERs.
Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP sought clarity on whether the national importance status would lead to the end of OBC and SC/ST reservation at the NIPERs.
Anil Jain of the BJP noted that the council for the NIPERs would look into various measures like growth of pharma education and other related activities ahead.