Shekhawat ask Universities to Encourage Research

Shekhawat ask Universities to Encourage Research

Addresses at 17th Convocation of Pondicherry University

Puducherry: The Vice-President of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has urged universities to promote research in subjects having far reaching effect on improving the quality of life of the people.

In his convocation address at the Pondicherry University at Kalapet near here on Saturday, the Vice-President said that presently only seven per cent of the country’s youth in the age group of 17 to 23 got a chance for higher education.

Enrolment in science was less than 20 per cent, while in engineering and technology it was 6.6 per cent and in medicine only 3.3 per cent. “We must make all efforts to increase enrolment in these faculties” he pointed out.

The encouragement of research would certainly help in increasing the number of patients registered for research in science, engineering and medicine.

Growth strategy

Stressing the need for redefining the growth strategy, Mr.Shekhawat, who is also Chancellor of the University, said, “We should make development inclusive of all sections of society, Growth should not merely mean percentage increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It should mean real economic enlistment of the common man and we need growth with equity which bridges the gap between the rich and the poor, ”he noted.

“As a developing nation with a sub-optimal Human Development Index ranking of 126, we are still grappling with problems of poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy and disease, “he added.

About 26 crore of the population still lived below the poverty line and over three crore people remaining unemployed, he said, and added that rural incomes had dwindled and farm households had become more prone to stress and insecurity.

The Vice-President said that the problem of farmers’ suicides was a matter of grave anxiety that called for rejuvenation of agriculture and taking up of programmes for integrated rural development.

Vice-Chancellor A.K.Bhatnagar welcomed the gathering and presented a report highlighting the growth of the university, which celebrated its 20th anniversary recently.

Shekhawat ask Universities to Encourage Research

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