DEHRADUN, Aug 26:
All possible resources should be mobilised for rebuilding the lives and hopes of the people of Uttarakhand which saw large-scale devastation by heavy rains and floods, President Pranab Mukherjee said here today.
While expressing solidarity with the victims and survivors of the tragedy, he said it was important to always fight and stand up against the odds.
“In times of adversity, one should never let go the indomitable human spirit for survival and rejuvenation,” Mukherjee, who is on a day-long visit to the state, said while addressing the 11th convocation of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES).
Uttarakhand, Mukherjee noted, recently suffered from massive floods and landslide that resulted in loss of precious human lives.
“Many people suffered heavily in respect of damage to property.I urge the adequate mobilisation of all possible resources in rebuilding the lives and hopes of the people,” he said
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said the calamity had claimed lives of 5,000 people, both from his state and outside, and that normalcy will be back soon.
He thanked the President for intervening and getting the Indian Air Force (IAF) deploy its large fleet of Mi-17 helicopters for the “biggest-ever rescue operations done in recent history” in the state.
Talking about the country’s economy, the President, himself an ex-Finance Minister, said he is “not disappointed” by the current economic situation in the country.
He said India has achieved a 7.9 growth rate despite major international financial crisis and the Eurozone crisis.
India should “feel confident”, he said, adding, “Yes there are predicaments and hurdles but I am sure we will tide over them. Our long term growth prospects are quite right”.
Focusing his attention towards the subject of energy security, the President said India must find out ways to decrease its dependency on conventional sources of energy as our resources in this area are “inadequate”.
“India is the fourth biggest consumer of energy in the world, after US, China and Russia.To sustain high levels of consumption, our energy resources are inadequate.
Energy intensity, which is a measure of energy efficiency of an economy, indicates that India uses much more energy to produce one unit of GDP, as compared to nations like UK, Germany, Japan and US.
“To achieve a high growth rate while meeting the energy needs of the population poses a challenge to us.It calls for higher energy production and for devising measures that promote energy efficiency. We must explore alternative energy models to reduce our dependence on conventional sources of energy,” he said.
The UPES, established a decade ago, is the country’s first university dealing in core energy subjects and it runs 52 specialised programmes in the fields of oil and gas, power, infrastructure, electronics, logistics, information technology and international business.
The President also had a word for policy makers.
“Policy making should be proactive to identify problems, highlight trends, develop scenarios and recommend policy options, so as to avert any crisis,” he said.
Mukherjee said a greater intensity of science and technology in the energy sector is required and there is need for expert knowledge for developing capabilities and strengthening systems through innovation.
He expressed concern over dearth of good academic institutions and lack of research activities in universities across the country.
“After 1933, no scholar has received a Nobel Prize for fundamental research. There is no lack of talent (in the country). My appeal to you is that we must make up the shortcomings,” he said.
“Our higher education sector must be equipped to complement economic forces.Despite credible infrastructure in our country- over 650 degree awarding universities and over 30,000 colleges – there is a paucity of good quality institutions to meet growing aspirations of our youth,” he said.
The President said because of this and the fact that none of the Indian universities figure in the top 200 institutions of the world, “many bright young minds from India go abroad for better quality higher studies.”
Mukherjee said it was the time to bring about positive changes in the country’s higher education system.
“The times of static academic institutions responding cautiously to new challenges is over. Academic institutions are a service provider and the quality of service delivery matters.
“Institutions must be proactive, dynamic and interactive. The benefits of technology should be applied to enable refinement in teaching methodology,” he said.
He said in order to promote research in academic institutions and universities, number of fellowships and inter-disciplinary and inter-university collaborations should be increased.
While congratulating the students of the university, the President exhorted them to help the nation create better citizens “who understand their rights and responsibilities.”
He also said that there is a need to provide “large scale formal vocational training” to the country’s workforce and make this demographic “dividend” of India count.
The President told the students that success belongs to lifelong learners. “Wherever you are, whatever you are, never be shy to learn.I am sure you will take the path of hard work, sincerity and conviction to be a winner in life,” he said. (PTI)
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