The agitation
There was no agitation. It was a creation of the media. They (SWA) claimed over 20,000 people participated, whereas not a single person agitated. No one abandoned work or caused any hindrance and very few wore black badges. But it hurts the cause of the CSIR because industry will think, "Why should we go to CSIR when there are such agitations there?" In such a large organisations, some people will always have problems.

MANAS
This is what they stressed on and they accepted. The system is not as good as they expected. They only say scrap the merit system, but at least it should be given some time. The CSIR has been the most progressive organisation in terms of personnel policy.

I had indicated that the refereeing system could cause difficulties and I agree the system is not good for the intercomparison of people. Personally, I feel they should have faith in the selection committee.

Demand for all directors to be from within CSIR
I myself came from outside. The most successful directors have come from outside, like Khanna. This infusion of new blood is necessary. We must get the best possible minds. We need people with management experience, expertise in establishing couplings between technology and industry, which may not exist in CSIR now. But we do not discriminate. If there are capable persons within the CSIR, they are chosen as directors. The recent example is that of V Prakash who has been appointed as director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute.