NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Democracy not only gives rights but also entails responsibilities and India’s youth have a vital role in building a resurgent India, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.
“India is a shining example of democratic polity and pluralistic society. Democracy not only gives rights but also entails responsibilities. Educated youth have to play a vital role in building a resurgent new India. The state and the community invest in the youth by providing facilities for education and self-development,” he said in his maiden address via video conferencing to students of Central University of Odisha from here.
“The education you receive will bring you the opportunity to make a difference. This is the time to prepare yourself to engage with our beautiful, complex, and sometimes difficult and noisy democracy,” he said while delivering the fourth foundation day lecture of the university.
The university was established in 2009 in Koraput which has a significant tribal population and it offers PG courses in languages, social sciences, basic sciences and development studies.
He said the need of the hour is that the Universities produced men and women of character and integrity.
“To build the country of our dreams, we need competent and committed individuals. Our universities must produce men and women of character and integrity. Without these values, it is impossible to achieve anything worthwhile in life. Along with academic proficiency our universities must lay great emphasis on character-building,” he said.
The President said high economic growth was an integral part of the country’s development strategy.
“Achieving it will depend on our ability to mobilise the knowledge economy. It has to be built on the edifice of a sound higher education system,” he said.
He stressed that India needs quality educational institutes and rued that none of the Indian varsities figure in the top 200 institutions of the world.
“An international survey has ranked not a single Indian university amongst the top 200 universities in the world. Our ancient academic system had world class universities like Takhshila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri,” he said.
“It ran on the strength of efficient management. There is no reason why we cannot regain our leadership position in higher education. A culture of excellence has to be created. A flexible approach and innovative strategies need to be adopted in our higher education system to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” the President said.
He said universities should harness the power of technology for students to get better knowledge.
“Many bright students are prevented by geographic location or economic difficulty from seeking higher education. Our universities must use technology solutions like e-education to address the problems of accessibility, quality, affordability and faculty shortage.
“Accessibility and affordability will result in greater inclusion. It will improve the enrolment rate and enhance the quality of graduates produced,” he said.
Mukherjee told the students that innovations is the need of the hour.
“Innovation will be a determining factor of growth in the future. Our academic system must encourage innovation activity. The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, unveiled this year calls for mentoring grassroots innovation,” he said.
He also had a word for the universities and their academic heads.
“The value erosion in our society has to be arrested. Our academic institutions have a duty to mould the minds of our youth and inculcate in them the essential civilisational values of love for motherland, performance of duty, compassion for all, tolerance for pluralism, respect for women, honesty in life, self-restraint in conduct, responsibility in action and discipline,” he said. (PTI)
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