The Plight Of Scientists Joining Research Institutes In India

Scientists joining the Indian Council of Medical Research generally enter the services as a Research Officer, after completion of Ph.D. in a particular discipline of Life Sciences.

The jeal, work culture, dynamism, restless quality of students is retained but the work and expectations are not explained at any stage. The ICMR institutes are generally disease based, Filariasis, Malaria, Nutritional disorders, Viral diseases, Leprosy, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive disorders, Haematology, Occupational health hazards, etc. to name a few. Many students take a lot of time to grasp the details of a new health problem / disease and wander as to work on a area of their specialization. Medicos are better in the sense that they treat patients in the OPD. They are paid NPA for not indulging in private practice but a number of them do without any guilt feeling. There does not exist a system to check this. Non-medicos have to start studying the subject all over again to get doing something. Most Seniors are not willing to collaborate and guide a newcomer.

Although the probation period is of 2 years, there is no formal training, or orientation regarding the job. Even the rules and regulations of the Institute in particular and the organization as a whole are not explained. People are expected to know everything. Many Directors are dictators in their own Institute but a few are helpful.

Facilities
The scientists have to share Computers, printers, and the access to Internet is not available. Not everyone can afford to have a Computer, printer, internet facilities, etc. at home at the start of job. Sometimes, even a separate room / cabin is not available in the Institute where the person can sit and concentrate on the subject matter.

Projects
The stress is on getting extramural funds for some research project. If the Council does not have funds, then why continue with research? Getting funds from extramural agencies is not easy and requires a new proposal apart from immaculate planning and a budget proposal. That takes about a year for getting a sanction. There is no guarantee for sanctioning of funds. The PI is usually not questioned regarding the direct utility of a research proposal. Nor is there any checks for proper utilization of funds. The dealing clerks help in the accounts, purchase and related works only if they are paid a handsome amount as Honorarium. The publication related to project work is not emphasized.

Publications
The scientists are expected to publish their work in standard journals with a respectable Impact Factor and fairly good citation index. But those who join Institutes other than their parent Institutes do take time. Laboratory based work takes time for publication.

But those in the Interview panel do not consider anything. Only the number of publication matters. The emphasis is on quantity and not quality. The journal published by ICMR, Indian Journal of Medical Research, is good for scientists. But it takes 3 months to acknowledge the receipt of a manuscript and demands a signed letter from all the authors and the Director of the Institute. It is this step, which consumes a lot of time. If instead of hard copy sent by post, it would accept manuscripts online, as many other journals do these days, it would save enormous time.

Confidential reports [CR]
Confidential reports of the Scientists are written by Directors and here lies the most important factor for further promotions. Biasness towards some employees might play a great role in shaping their future.

Some Scientists tend to be timid, not disagreeing with the Boss. They believe in the term, “Yes-Boss” while a few who have the courage to raise their voice, against their bosses. They are dealt with in a different manner. They might face anything under the sun, from adverse remarks in their CRs to denying facilities and non-cooperation in the Office, to insults in meetings in front of colleagues, junior staff, to transfer to a difficult area, etc. Just to keep their CR’s free from adverse remarks, and themselves safe, Scientists keep on suffering endlessly. Scientists have become timid and their nature has imbibed the quality of patience.

Assessment
Assessment of ICMR scientists are done after every five years but in reality, the turn comes after seven years, 2 years delay. No one knows the reason but ICMR itself is slow in the process. An organization which is too slow, demands the scientists to excel in terms of publications and projects.

The Committee, consisting of people from outside ICMR, hardly know the job conditions of scientists. They are free to ask any silly questions during the interview and thus, the quality of assessment suffers. The interviewers are not competent enough to assess the scientists but they do the job they are assigned. Nothing relevant to work is asked nor the knowledge assessed. The fact that publication takes a lot of time is not considered. Even accepted papers are printed after a period of 6 to 9 months. But the members of the Committee only wants printed articles. The entire process of assessment has become more or less a harrassment. A person who has never failed in his/her career is denied promotion. This comes as a setback but people continue in the organization. The spirit to serve the sick and do something keeps them doing their job. People from Administration and clerks, as well as junior / senior staff look down upon those scientists who are not through the assessment and denied promotion.

Pressures
The enormous pressure leads to stress- related disorders. The mind works best when it is free like a parachute. The concern here is if the persons are under stress, it will affect their performance. How can they put forth their best?

Suggestions
1. 3-6 months of training during probation period, regarding job expectations, leave rules, regulations, etc.
2. Assessment exactly after 5 years.
3. Providing all the facilities to Scientists.
4. Freedom to work independently.
5. Criteria to be uniform for all grades of scientists.
6. Assessment committee to consist of retired scientists of repute from ICMR.
7. 10 minutes presentation by scientists regarding their work followed by questions.

Tags: dynamism, extramural funds, filariasis, hiv aids, icmr, internet facilities, jeal, job, leprosy, medicos, opd, probation period, reproductive disorders, research officer, scientists, share computers, subject matter projects, viral diseases, work culture