New Delhi: Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad Chairman N R Narayana Murthy today (June 18, 2004) rejected the idea of better-off institutes supporting the weaker ones.

He said the stronger IIMs, like IIM-A, have a lot to do to strengthen themselves. "IIM Ahmedabad cannot take up other IIMs. It cannot do anything for others," Murthy told newsmen when asked whether the financially sounder IIMs can help the weaker ones.

"IIMs at Indore and Lucknow are good institutes. They have good people and I am sure they will be taken forward," he said in New Delhi.

Murthy said each IIM should help itself. He was, however, open to the idea of faculty transfer. "This can be discussed", he said.

The idea of stronger IIMs helping the weaker ones came up yesterday when Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh announced the Government's plans to set up an IIM in Northeast. Singh had said the institute would be set up and operated by one of the established IIMs after which it would function independently.

As the IIMs thrash out a formula for need-based scholarships, Murthy said the Ministry did the right thing by allowing the institutes to decide their own fee structure.

"This was the right thing to do and I am glad our proposal (to keep the fee structure intact while allowing for need-based scholarship) has been accepted," he said.

After IIM-Indore, IIM-Calcutta today decided to revert to the old fee structure but offer need-based scholarship to students whose family income was less than Rs 200,000 per annum.

Other IIMs too are expected to stick to the fee formula, which was first announced by IIM-Indore.