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FAMI
Background
The Association of Microbiologists of India established in 1938 is one of the oldest and reputed scientific organizations of the country. Since its inception, it has contributed significantly towards development of microbiology, particularly in areas of research teaching and commerce in country. The Association publishes a quarterly journal, “Indian Journal of Microbiology” for the last 45 years and holds a National convention annually at one of the well established centers of microbiology in the country. Besides, the Association also helps various centers of microbiology through its regional chapters at different places in the country. At present, there are more than 1500 life and annual members and about 400 corporate members of the Association. Indian Journal of Microbiology, by publishing peer reviewed original research findings and research reviews from researchers in India and abroad, has been acquired as respectable status among national and international scientific research periodicals in the world. Members of the Association occupy responsible positions in the various national and international researches, teaching and industrial organizations and contribute very significantly for the cause of microbiology in the country. Therefore, in the 44th General Body (GB) Meeting of the association on November 10, 2003 at the University of Dharwad, Dharward (Karnataka) on November 10, 2003, a decision was taken to recognize the contributions of the distinguished Microbiologists of India through the award of Fellowship of the Association. The distinguished Microbiologists selected for the award be called as “Fellow of the Association of Microbiologists of India (FAMI).
 
The General Body of the Association approved the rules and regulation by FAMI and to begin with the fellowship programme, conferred FAMI on the past Presidents and General Secretaries up to Dec 2003, as the Founder Fellows of AMI.
 
Following these rules, during 2004 and 2005, seven distinguished microbiologists in country were awarded the Fellowship. However, in the 45th General Body Meeting of AMI at Karnal, a decision was taken to look in to the rules and regulations of the award of FAMI and revise them to make these more objective and transparent. A committee comprising of Dr. Y. D. Gaur as chairman, Dr. R. S. Kohlon and Dr. Rameshwar Singh as members was constituted for this purpose. In order to substantiate the rules and regulations, the committee was further extended including Prof. BN Johri, Prof. Tauro, Prof. Randhir Singh, Prof. S Kannyan Prof. KR Dadarwal, Prof. Gayaprasad and Dr. S. Ayyapan. After receiving the reports/feedback from these members, GS and JS compiled the report and put before central council members on 7th December 2005. The documents for rules and regulation for FAMI were scrutinized by the central council and then finally approved by the General Body Meeting, during the 46th Annual Meeting of AMI at Hyderabad. The revised rules will now be considered as the “Rules and Regulations for the Selection and Award of Fellowship of Association of Microbiologists of India (FAMI).
 
General
  • Fellows are identified on the basis of excellence in any of the areas of basic or applied microbiology, as the main purpose of Association is to recognize and support excellence in the microbial research, teaching and technology development. Outstanding achievements and sustained significant contributions to microbiological science are the main determining criteria.
  • The elected person will be called as Fellow of the Association of Microbiologists of India (FAMI); and will be entitled to use the title: FAMI.
  • The total number of the Fellows of the association at any given time shall not exceed 5 per cent of the total memberships, including Annual and Life Members of the Association; and the number of Fellows elected in a year shall not exceed five.
  • The vacancies will be reviewed once the total number of fellows reaches 100.
  • Person elected as Fellow shall be presented a citation, duly signed by the General Secretary and the President of AMI, normally during GB meeting.
  • Nomination of unsuccessful candidate may be sent afresh every year up to a period of three year. The applicant will be on roster for three years and his/her biodata will be updated every year.
  • These rules and regulations became effective from 01.01.2006.
 
Eligibility Criteria
  • The objectives of the fellowship award is to recognize members of the association of Microbiologists Of India, who have made outstanding contributions in research, teaching, technology development, or transfer of technology including publications in any of the basic or applied areas of microbiology with respect to agriculture, dairy, fisheries, food and nutrition, fiber, fuel, environment, industry, medicine and health, molecular, pharmaceutical and veterinary.
  • All members of AMI having standing of ten years are eligible for nominations as Fellows. Out of these ten years, he or she should have been a life member of AMI for the preceding five years.
  • Under exceptional conditions, an outstanding microbiologist in any International research organization/reputed foreign university can be considered for the election of Fellow, even if he/she is not member of the Association. However, at the time of election, he/she has to be enrolled as a member of AMI. The election of such fellow could be one or none; however it should not exceed 10 % of the total FAMI in a year.
  • A member to be considered as FAMI should normally have a doctoral degree (Ph. D) and must have a minimum of 15 years of research/teaching/technology development experience in Microbiology. However member with PG degree can be considered for FAMI as an exceptional case.
  • Each eligible nomination will be retained and considered for three years, or till elected, which ever is earlier. Unsuccessful candidates may be nominated after a rest/gap of one year.
 
Nominations
  • The nomination for a Fellow should be proposed and seconded by either FAMI or Life member of AMI for last ten years.
  • A life member of AMI or a FAMI can propose only one nomination in a year.
  • Nomination should be in the proforma provided by the General Secretary, AMI.
  • The nominee should complete all columns and should sign the acceptance proforma in the application.
  • Nomination duly proposed and completed in all aspects should reach General Secretary by 31st August of the year.
 
Selection and Election of Fellows
  • The Central Council (CC) of AMI will constitute a Fellow Selection Committee (FSC), consisting of a panel of ten experts, covering all the areas of microbiology. Each member of FSC should be either a FAMI or Senior Life Member of AMI with 20 years of standing, who has made outstanding contributions in any of the areas of microbiology. Any member who has nominated a candidate for fellowship will not be a member of the selection committee.
  • The General Secretary will send a copy of each of the eligible nominations to each member of FSC, latest by 31st September of the year.
  • In case more than five candidates are recommended, the preference will be given to the seniormost applicant on the basis of age.
  • Recommendations duly compiled by the General Secretary will be placed in CC- Meeting, which will ratify the recommendations of the experts. If any member of CC points out any serious allegation of fraud or perjury with proof against any of the selected nominee, the CC will decide about the case. The recommendations of the CC will be put up to the GB for approval by majority of votes. The elected nominee will be awarded the Fellowship.
  • The decision of GB will be final and subject to no judicial review.
  • Last two steps will be followed till the number of selected Fellows reaches to 50 i.e. up to year 2012. After that the list of Fellows approved by CC will be circulated among Fellows of AMI for voting as followed by NAAS or INSA. A minimum of 70 percent positive opinions will form the final criterion for the selection. This will be scrutinized by at least three members of CC including the general secretary and president
 
Conferring of the Fellowship
The final recommendation of the CC regarding the election of a nominee as a Fellow of AMI will be communicated by the General Secretary, who will also invite the candidate in the Annual Meeting of AMI to confer the fellowship. The selected fellow will be provided two tier AC fare for the journey and local hospitality, if one is not able to manage it from his/her own resources, for attending the function in the annual meeting.
In a Special Session of the Annual Meeting of AMI, the elected Fellows will be conferred the Fellowships, along with a citation and memento with AMI-Emblem. The recipients of fellowship will deliver a review of his/her significant achievements.
 
Rights and privileges of FAMI
  • The fellow will be entitled to use FAMI after his/her name as a short title.
  • The title FAMI once conferred will remain for the lifetime of the member.
  • Fellows of the association will continue to have all the rights and privileges of Member of Association.
  • Those members who are not life members of AMI but are selected as founder FAMI's, will not required to pay any subscription to the association if they so desire but shall continue to have the privileges that they earlier possessed by virtue of their holding AMI office positions.
  • Fellows of the Association will have the privilege of nomination an annual member/life member or a non-member for election of the Fellow of AMI.
  • Fellows who have retired from active service may be exempted from paying registration fee while attending annual conferences of AMI.
 
Cessation of a Fellow
  • A fellow has the right to withdraw his/her title of AMI by writing to the General Secretary giving valid reasons. The request will be placed before the Central Council, which may accept or return it for reconsideration.
  • The General Body of AMI on recommendation of the Central Council AMI has the right to withdraw the Fellowship of a member, if the latter is found to be involved in any unlawful activity, perjury or any other act prejudicial to the interest of AMI. However, the CC must produce full account of charges along with proofs, which must have been verified by an independent inquiry Committee, consisting of at least three eminent members, of which one should be non-member of AMI.