The downturn in Information Technology sector  and the uproar over outsourcing in the United States and European countries is telling on the IT branch at the engineering colleges back home. With no takers for IT branch among engineering students, several colleges have moved to shut the branch completely as it is turning unviable.

All India Council of Technical Education ( AICTE), Bhopal chapter, Narender Singh admitted that several engineering colleges from Bhopal have been applying to close down the IT branch in their institutes. "It is true, several colleges have applied to close down the IT branch. It is because of poor strength of students in the IT branch," said Singh. However, he refused to divulge more details saying he was not authorized to speak on the issue. "For more, you should contact Delhi office."

On the condition of anonymity, the owner of an engineering college who also applied for closure of IT branch a loss making venture to run the branch. There are 106 engineering colleges in Bhopal. Among these almost 70% colleges had IT branch. After the number of students started decreasing, almost 30% colleges have either shut down the IT branch or applied to close the IT branch in the last one year.

Chairman of Association of Private Engineering Colleges, Sunil Bansal, said that in last one year, students have evinced keen interest in mechanical branch instead of IT.

"It is tough for private engineering colleges to run the branch in which students are not showing interest," Bansal said. Interestingly, Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV) has chalked out a plan to generate opportunities in IT.

The vice-chancellor of RGPV, Prof Piyush Trivedi confirmed that the university is working on a plan to generate opportunities in the IT branch. "We are working on a plan to generate around one lakh job in the IT and computer science branch. RGPV will tie up with several companies to create job opportunities to the IT students," he said.