In a bid to transform the controversial Media Lab Asia project into a research hub, the government on Thursday announced a budgetary support of Rs 65 crore (Rs 650 million) per year to the research and development entity, to be guided by a steering committee that would include the human resources development minister.
The decision of the Union Cabinet to retain the project as a government R&D entity, which would have project-based relations with institutes, comes within months of the controversial withdrawal of the joint venture partner Massachusetts Institute of Technology of the United States, from the project.
Announcing the decision of the Cabinet, Information Technology and Communications Minister Arun Shourie said, "The government has approved the allocation of Rs 65 crore per year for the project. There will be no exclusive relationship with the institutes like MIT. Whatever relationship has to be, will be on a project by project basis."
Shourie said a steering committee would be set up to guide the project.
"There will be a steering committee consisting completely of our own people but in that committee there will be representatives from academic institutions who will be carrying out the research," he said.
The project - Media Lab Asia - was founded in 2001 to help develop technologies to benefit the Indian masses. The goal was to help the economically weaker sections of the society with affordable wireless and Internet technology.
Recently, MIT pulled out of the collaboration with India in less than two years, citing differences with Shourie over the focus and management of research projects.
