The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) alumnus Dr. Krishna Chivukula, owner and chairman, Board of Directors, Indo US MIM TEC Private Ltd, donated  Rs 5 crore to renovate the campus hostels and augment existing maintenance facilities.

An initial sum of Rs. 2.5 crore has already been handed over to the institute to renovate the Cauvery Hostel, which was the first-ever hostel to be constructed on the campus. Hostels at IIT Madras are named after rivers. Its construction began in the year 1961. While the continued support of the Government is important to enabling providing well-maintained hostel accommodations to students, this one-time contribution will help elevate the hostels to world-class standards for the benefit of several generations of future students.

Two more hostels will be identified by the Institute for renovation. Dr.Krishna Chivukula presented the cheque to Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, in the presence of Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (International and Alumni Relations), IIT Madras, on 8th January 2020.

This contribution, which was part of the institute’s #KeepItFlowing campaign to support the hostels, will help the Institute to execute face-lift works in restrooms including waterproofing, façade improvements in corridor and staircase, painting, shoe rack fixing, gardening, development of playfields, cycle parking and façade improvement at the main entrance, among others.

Chivukula said in a press release, “IITMadras gave me  world-class education at literally ‘zero cost.’  This led to my being admitted to the Harvard Business School, which in turn led to my being successful in life. I am delighted to be able to give back to the Institution that was the root cause of my success. I sincerely urge my fellow IITians to experience the same joy that I experience!”