Patna, Sept. 5: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today formally launched the induction programme for the batch 2011-13 of Lalit Narayan Mishra Institute of Economic Development and Social Change on the institute premises today.

The institute started in 1973, when there were just a handful of institutes in unified Bihar, has been imparting education in management studies.

Named after Lalit Narayan Mishra, the stalwart leader of Mithilanchal region and elder brother of former chief minister Jagannath Mishra, the institute has been imparting education in management.

Speaking on the occasion, the deputy chief minister claimed that during 1973 when the institute was established, students had little information or knowledge about the career avenues of management as only engineering and medical streams were preferred by students at that time.

Modi also had some suggestions for improving quality of higher education. Modi said: “A good institute should have some parameters, which includes that the curriculum of the institute should be modern and updated, the infrastructure should be well-developed with classrooms, toilets and drinking water facilities, qualified faculty members, transparency in admission process career opportunities for students after completing their course.”

Modi said society would not develop if it doesn’t move along with time. Modi, while explaining his point said there has been a phenomenal change in human civilisation in the past 150 years after the Industrial Revolution and now technology has become the backbone of any society.

The deputy chief minister also raised the issue that technology can be a handiwork in checking corruption, as with advancement of technology people do not have to stand in queue to pay their electricity or telephone bills.

On the occasion, the state human resource development minister, P.K. Shahi, said: “We accept the fact that higher education is not in good shape in Bihar owing to some reasons but at the same time many institutes of repute including Chandragupt Institute of Management, Patna and Chanakya National Law University have been started.”

The education minister also promised to provide all necessary help in upgrading and promoting the institute. Shahi pledged that the institute would be developed as the best institute with the state government providing all necessary assistance for development of the institute.

Shahi asked the institute director to come down to his office after September 27 and settle all pending issues.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, the chairman of institute and former chief minister Jagannath Mishra urged the state government representatives to provide all necessary assistance so that the institute can be developed as best management institute in the state.