Jamshedpur, Aug. 12: There are few takers for MTech courses at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jamshedpur.

Despite granting a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000, several seats are lying vacant. The institute provides MTech in applied mechanics, metallurgy, electricals and chemistry.

Only in the electricals stream are all 14 seats occupied. Of the 10 seats in the chemistry department, only two seats are taken while no student has shown interest to take any of the two seats offered in the metallurgy faculty. In applied mechanics, 50 per cent of the 14 seats have been filled.

The dean (academics) of the institute, professor Sambhu Shravan, said they have received a lukewarm response for admission into the MTech stream. “Most students who qualify into BTech prefer taking up jobs than continuing with higher studies,” he said.

In view of the cold response towards the MTech course, NIT authorities are now contemplating to increase the stipend to Rs 9,000.

They are also trying to introduce seven new subjects, which include courses in electronics and electronic communications. “The board of governors at NIT approved the new courses a year ago but the proposal is still pending with the All India Council for Technical Education,” an official of the institute said.

Once the courses are introduced, the institute might need to hire more faculty members to maintain the student-teacher ratio, he pointed out. “The institute has witnessed frequent strikes and has also reshuffled faculty members. Due to this the matter could not be approached well,” he added.