विदर्भात जागतिक स्तरीय उच्च शिक्षण व संशोधन संस्था स्थापन करणे काळाची गरज आहे. भारतीय तंत्रज्ञान संस्था (आयआयटी) आणि भारतीय विज्ञान शिक्षण व संशोधन संस्था (आयआयएसईआर) ची स्थापना हे विदर्भासाठी एक उत्तम पर्याय आहे. आम्ही प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याला, शिक्षकांना आणि पालकांना या उपक्रमाचे समर्थन करण्याचे आवाहन करतो. कृपया या याचिकेचे समर्थन करा.

Higher education in science and technology, coupled with innovation is one of the finest ways to further improve the situation People of Vidarbha. The institutes of national importance always bring the overall development of the Nation, but the first to be benefited are the regional people. Establishment of institutes of national importance in Vidarbha use to be disregarded, but in the last few years government has taken exceptional steps by establishing reputed institutes like IIM, AIIMS, and IIIT. 

It is a universal truth that basic scientific research and technological research and development always remain the underlying parameter of the development in any part of the world. Unfortunately, almost all good research institutes/universities in Maharashtra are crowded in the Mumbai-Pune region. Therefore, students in the Vidarbha region lack exposure to higher education and fundamental research.

It is need of the hour to establish the world-class higher education and research institute in Vidarbha. Establishment of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) is the best option for Vidarbha.

Basic sciences coupled with technology development is the only way to fight some of the serious threat we are facing, such as climate change, abrupt weather patterns, water shortage, plastic pollution, etc. which are dramatically affecting everyone and especially farmers and making their life more difficult. Establishing such a new institute in the region will help the aspiring children of Vidarbha to become the world’s renowned scientists/ technologists and take on these challenges. Their struggles necessitate the establishment of an academic institution for the study of various fields of science for the development of new technologies. Establishing the first-ever world-class research institute in the region of Vidarbha will bring significant change in advancing equality of access to educational and professional resources across Maharashtra.

Students of Vidarbha has great potential. However, due to the lack of higher education in science and technology, Vidabhian students are unable to grab the job opportunities at the national and global scenario. Establishment of the world-class institute of education and research of science and technology in Vidarbha will boost the temperament of the young students about scientific and technological research. It will provide inter-disciplinary education and promote the culture of investing best minds for the development of basic sciences and world-class technology, which is lacking in the region. We believe the establishment of a world-class institute of education and research of science and technology in Vidarbha, such as IIT and IISER, is long overdue.

Although in recent times large efforts to boost the industrial space in Vidarbha were made, it never achieved the expected momentum. It is an open fact that any modern industry needs critical input from academic R & D. However, because of the lack of quality institute, ‘Vidarbha R&D’ remains an unrealized dream. Establishment of IIT/IISER will promote the much required industry-academic collaboration in the region. It can fill the gap, and help us realize our dream of ‘Industrial Revolution’ in the Vidarbha region, which will bring numerous jobs and contribute for sustainable development of Vidarbha.

The Government of India has established IITs in almost all the states. Based on the state’s population, more new IITs are being established. For example, being the most populous state, Utter Pradesh has two IITs. There is already discussion about the establishment of new IISER at Lucknow. Maharashtra is in second place in term of population and continuously accommodating the largest number of other state population for education and jobs among all the states. Now, it is Maharashtra’s turn to get new IIT and IISER. Maharashtra does not have a full-fledged central university with the disciplines of science and technology. Whereas, other major states (in term of the population) have multiple central universities [UP (6), Bihar (3), Delhi (5), MP (2), Tamilnadu (2)].

The state of Maharashtra is huge. The number of young students who are hungry for knowledge is enormous. Vidarbha has produced great academicians in the field of science, engineering, technology and medicine. It justifies the requirement of a new institute of national importance (IIT and IISER) in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

We are hereby requesting Government of Maharashtra and Government of India for the establishment of IIT and IISER in Vidarbha. This will open up new avenues for students of Vidarbha and inspire them for basic scientific research and technology development, generating more employability. It is indeed a necessary step to make the Vidarbha as the developed region of Maharashtra.

We have created a group of around 65 reputed faculty/scientists of Vidarbha (from across the country) and taking part in our joint advocacy for IIT and IISER in Vidarbha region.

We call upon every student, teachers, and parent, to support this initiative by signing this petition.

1. Prof.  Shekhar Mande, FNA, FIASc, FNASC, Bhatnagar Awardee, Secretary, DSIR and Director General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi
2. Prof. Vivek Polshettiwar, FRSC, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai  (Convener of this group- Email- iitvidarbha@gmail.com)
3. Prof. Rajiv V. Gavai, FNA, FASc, Bose Fellow, Senior Professor and ex-Chairperson, Theoretical Physics, TIFR, Mumbai
4. Prof. S. P. Kane, Vice-Chancellor,  Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj (RTM), Nagpur University, Nagpur
5. Prof. Prafullachandra Vishnu Sane, FNA, FIASc, FNASC, FNAAS, FMAS, Bhatnagar Awardee, Former Director, NBRI, Lucknow
6. Prof. P. C. Deshmukh, Dean, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Tirupati and Ex. Prof. IIT, Madras
7. Prof. Rajesh S Gokhale, FNA, FNASC, Bhatnagar Awardee, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, (Ex. Director of Institute of Genomics & Integr. Biology)    
8.  Prof Manmohan Sarin, FASc,FNA,FNASc, DST-SERB Distinguished Fellow, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
9. Dr. Mukund Gurjar, FNASc, FASc, Chief scientific officer at Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pune
10. Prof.  Sanjio S. Zade, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata
11. Prof. Pravin P. Ingole, Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), New Delhi
12. Prof. Ashish K. Darpe, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi
13. Prof. Harshawardhan Wanare, Head, Centre for Lasers and Photonics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur
14. Prof. A. R. Kulkarni, Institute Chair Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay
15. Dr. Mandar V. Deshmukh, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderbad
16. Dr. Shishir P Deshpande, Director, ITER, India
17. Prof. Namdeo Gajbhiye, Professor IIT, Kanpur, (Ex. Vice-Chancellor Gorakhpur University and Dr. H S Gour University Sagar)
18. Prof. Suresh Madhusudan Deshpande, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore
19. Prof. Manoj Munde, School of Physical Sciences, JNU, New Delhi
20. Prof. Dhanraj T. Masram, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, New Delhi
21. Prof. N. K. Subhedar, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
22.  Prof. P. M. Gade , Head of the Department of Physics, Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj (RTM) Nagpur University, Nagpur 
23. Prof. Anil M. Pophare, Head of the Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur  University, Nagpur
24. Prof. Jyotsna Meshram, Head of the Department of Chemistry, RTM Nagpur  University, Nagpur
25. Prof. G. S. Khadekar, Dean Faculty of Science and Technology & Head, Department of Mathematics, RTM Nagpur  University, Nagpur
26. Prof. B. K. Swain, Head of the Department of Sociology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur
27. Prof. Arti Shanware, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Centre, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur
28. Prof. Kalpana Jadhav, Director, Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur
29. Prof.  M. S. Sastry, Ex-Head of the Department Zoology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur.
30. Prof.  Nandkishor  N.  Karade, Department of Chemistry, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur 
31. Prof. Rajendra Prasad, Department of Chemistry, S G B Amravati University, Amravati
32. Prof. Hemant S. Chandak, S G B Amravati University, Amravati
33. Prof. Umesh Deshpande, Head of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
34. Prof. Suresh Umare, Head of the Department of Chemistry, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
35. Prof. R. S. Gedam, Head of the Department of Physics, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
36. Prof. R.B. Deshmukh, Head of the Department of VLSI and Nanotechnology, VNIT, Nagpur
37. Prof. Atul Wankhade, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
38. Prof. Shriram. S. Sonawane, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
39. Prof. Rajendra Patrikar, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
40. Prof. Makarand M. Lokhande, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
41. Prof. A. S. Mokhade, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
42. Prof. Kishor Bhurchandi, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
43. Dr. Umesh Pratap, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
44. Prof. Vishrut Landge, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur
45. Prof. Yashwant B. Katpatal, Department of Civil Engineering, VNIT, Nagpur
46. Prof. V. A. Mhaisalkar, Professor Emeritus, VNIT, Nagpur
47. Dr. Nitin Labhsetwar, Head, Energy and Resource Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
48. Dr. Krishna Khairnar, Head, EVC Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
49. Dr. Ghanshyam L Bodhe, Head, AID Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
50. Dr. N.S.Raman, Head,  EIRA Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
51. Dr. Ganesh Kale, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
52. Dr Gajanan K. Khadse, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
53. Dr. Vaishali Khaparde, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
54. Dr. Atul Maldhure, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
55. Dr. Nishikant V. Deshpande, Director, Mindrill Engineering Services
56. Dr. Pravin G. Ingole, North East Institute of Science and Technology, Pulibor, Jorhat
57. Dr. Dilip M. Raut, DGM, Mylan Laboratories Limited, Hyderabad
58. Dr. Gajanan Kasawar, DGM, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Hyderbad
59. Dr. Umesh Kosurkar, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderbad
60. Dr. Sachin R. Chaudhari, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute(CFTRI), Mysore 
61. Prof. Nandkishor Chandan, Vice Principal, Siddharth College, University of Mumbai, Mumbai
62. Prof. Vishal W. Banewar, Department of Chemistry, The Institute of Science, Mumbai
63. Prof. Vikas Bangade, The Institute of Science, Mumbai
64. Prof. Manoj B. Gawande, Palacky University, Czech Republic
65. Mr. Upendra Mardikar, Director of Security Architecture, PayPal, USA
66. Dr. B. K. Deshmukh, CEO BKD Consultants, Ex- Sr Leader Dow Chemical, Carlsbad, USA
67. Dr. Vivek Bagh, Director, Centre for Scientific Learning, Nagpur