Anand (Gujarat), April 17 (PTI): Saluting the vision and leadership of Varghese Kurien in founding organisations like Indian Institute of Rural Management-Anand (IRMA), Director of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) R A Mashelkar on Sunday said that educational institutions like the IRMA were "more important" than the IITs and IIMs.

"An institute like IRMA is more important than the IITs and the IIMs, as it has a greater role to play in a developing rural India," Mashelkar, who was in the city for the 25th convocation of IMRA, told reporters.

IRMA is much more revelant to the development of rural India, he added.

"But there is a need for more IRMAs in India. At least four more IRMAs are required, one in Orissa, North-East, Uttranchal and other places," he said.

"I applaud the spirit and the vision, with which Kurien has built this organisation. Kurien is a great innovator. He has been able to see and think differently from others and that is what leadership is all about," Mashelkar said while praising the Amul pattern, which was invented by Kurien and has been replicated successfully at several places.

"IRMA has done such a yeoman service in integrating the development and management concerns in the rural areas by promoting sustainable and equitable rural development," he said.

"There are a very few academic institutions in the country, which has contributed so many managers to the development sector for such a long time," Mashelkar added.