NEP will make India ‘Knowledge Hub’, nation moving towards women-led empowerment: Prez

President Ram Nath Kovind, Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and LG Manoj Sinha at IIM convocation in Jammu on Thursday.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and LG Manoj Sinha at IIM convocation in Jammu on Thursday.

Urges IIM, other Institutes to adopt towns, villages in neighbourhood
*NEP, StartUps two important pillars of Govt: Dr Jitendra
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J&K will become ‘Atmanirbhar’ in upcoming years: Sinha

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, June 9: President Ram Nath Kovind said today that future of the country depends on good education of young population and talented youth are going to build India. He added that the National Educational Policy (NEP) seeks to position India as a ‘Knowledge Hub’ in today’s knowledge economy.
On his two-day visit to Jammu, Kovind was addressing 5th annual convocation of Indian Institute of Management Jammu here today.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and other dignitaries were present at the convocation.
The President reached here this morning and was received by the Lieutenant Governor and senior officers of civil and police administration. Click here to watch video
Tomorrow morning, he will visit holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji to pay obeisance to the Goddess before flying to Himachal Pradesh.
Kovind said India is moving towards women-led empowerment.
All three toppers of UPSC this year are women. Three medals today have also gone to girls, he added
“I’m happy that IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu are integrating and offering courses in which students from one Institute can get access to the other. This integration of courses and Institutes is in line with the objectives of National Education Policy–2020,” he said.
He urged IIM Jammu and other Institutes in its proximity to adopt towns and villages of the neighbourhood and channelize potential of the people there for bigger goals, be it in the field of entrepreneurship, research or skill development.
He asserted that for India to become a global knowledge hub, our Institutes of learning have to be globally comparable.
He urged students to always remain connected with their roots.
“As you step into the world of professional excellence and move from one place to another, I urge you to always remain connected with your roots. Never fail to give back to the society which has given you the opportunity to become a successful individual,” he said.
He added that education is the greatest enabler and the future of our country depends on good education of our young population.
“Institutes like IIM Jammu are nurturing our youth. These talented young people are going to build the India of the future. They are going to make the lives of the people, better, and the country, stronger,” the President said.
He added: “As we know, the National Education Policy seeks to position India as a ‘Knowledge Hub’ in today’s knowledge economy. It seeks to make our youth equipped for the world of 21st century while preserving our ancient values which remain relevant even today. For India to become a global knowledge hub, our institutes of learning have to be globally comparable”
Kovind expressed happiness that the number of Indian institutions in the global ranking is gradually increasing. He said that new institutions like IIM Jammu should quickly adopt global best practices and aspire for higher ranking.
The President said that aided by convergence of technologies and opportunities, many Startups have become very successful and are being described as the emerging mainstay of the Indian economy.
“Unicorns, most of which are set up by young people, must be a source of inspiration for all students,” he asserted.
Kovind said that the mindset of being a job-giver and not a job-seeker among the youth of India is one of the key factors in our country having one of the best Startup ecosystems in the world.
He noted with happiness that IIM Jammu, in collaboration with DICCI and CII, is going to set up a special diversity cell for helping potential entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
He appreciated everyone concerned with this initiative to promote entrepreneurship and inclusion.
The President advised students to remain quick learners and re-learners throughout their life. He said that the role of fast paced technological changes is going to be disruptive.
“The shelf life of technologies is getting shorter. Therefore, the shelf life of management and leadership styles is also going to be shorter. To deal with such a scenario, they have to move from the mindset of ‘utilizing the known’ to the approach of ‘exploring the unknown”. They have to move beyond their comfort zones to the areas of uncertainty. They have to convert challenges into opportunities. They have to be ‘pro-changers’ and yet be sensitize to ‘no-changers’ for converting them as supporters of change. They have to look at tomorrow while learning from yesterday. They have to create their future based on the relevant learning from the past,” he said.
He advised them to keep an open mind, an open heart and a strong will.
He said that a really good entrepreneur, good manager or a good business leader is one who believes in doing well by doing good. Excellence and ethics go together.
Addressing the convocation, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Independent Charge of Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that National Education Policy-2020 and StartUps movement are the two important pillars of Modi Government taking India fast among the frontline countries in the world.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, under the new mandate of Modi Government, IIMs and other higher institutes of learning must not only produce managers and executives for multinational companies, but they should add values through managerial skills in fostering the Startups eco-system. He said, Integration and Sustainability will create thousands of job opportunities in the booming Start-up culture happening in India.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that because of the impetus given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which began with his call for “StartUp India StandUp India” from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day Address in 2015, the number of StartUps in India has grown to 70,000 from about 300 to 400 in 8 years from 2014 to 2022.
“India has the world’s third largest ecosystem in this area and in just eight to 10 days a StartUp takes the shape of a unicorn,” Dr Jitendra Singh said and added that after a whopping 44 unicorns in 2021, the milestone of 100 unicorns was achieved a few days ago with a valuation Rs 25 lakh crore.
Referring to the huge success of CSIR promoted Aroma Mission through Lavender cultivation in Jammu, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Management Graduates must explore the two most unexplored areas of Agri-tech and Dairy Start-Ups. He said active 25 years of the Management Graduates and their vocations will determine the shape of India, when it turns 100 and they will be known as one of the architects of New India of 2047.
Dwelling on the National Education Policy-2020, Dr Jitendra Singh said, for the first time in 70 years, focus was placed on Aptitude, rather than on making students as careerists and crackers of exam.
Referring to the merits of NEP-2020, the Minister said, the provision of multiple entry/exit option is something to be cherished as this academic flexibility will have a positive impact on the students related to the availing of different career opportunities at different times, depending upon their intrinsic learning and inherent aptitude.
Saying that one of the objectives of NEP-202 is de-linking degree from education, Dr Jitendra Singh said that linking degrees with education has taken a heavy toll on our education system and society as well.
“One of the fall-outs has been an increasing number of educated unemployed,” he asserted.
He also added that NEP-20202 also addresses the problem of Drop-Outs, as one can now easily Drop-Back.
Throwing light on his favourite theme of Integration, Dr Jitendra Singh said that from a radius of 10 kilometres of IIM, Jammu, there are premier institutes like Indian Institute of Technology, AIIMS, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, upgraded Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, National Institute of High Altitude Medicine at Bhaderwah, 1st Industrial Biotech Park of North India at Kathua, North India’s first Space Centre at Central University Jammu etc.
Moreover, other Centrally funded institutes like over half a dozen Government Medical Colleges, RUSA funded Engineering colleges, Ayurvedic College, an upcoming Homeopathic College and a chain of Kendriya Vidyalayas in the Jammu province is a reality today, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said IIM Jammu is one of the major achievements of the Modi Government in the education sector for J&K and is catering to all sections of society, irrespective of region, religion or gender.
He said the Institute has made a mark in a very short span of time within mere five years of its existence, it is equated at par with best management institutes in the country. He added that this became possible because of its academic excellence, research, executive education and corporatized international linkages.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the Graduating students remarking that learning shouldn’t be confined to books and courses but should also be used in the real word.
Sinha proposed to make Jammu and Kashmir ‘Aatmanirbhar’ in the upcoming years.
He stressed the need for interdisciplinary and holistic education which if the main motto of National Education Police-2020.
In his Presidential address, Dr Milind P Kamble, Chairman Board of Governors, IIM, Jammu said it is heartening to see IIM Jammu making rapid strides and earning an outstanding reputation in such a short period of time because of its academic excellence, research, executive education and corporatized international linkages.
He took pride in opening up the Centre of Happiness-Anandam, first of its kind in the country. He also wished success to all the 214 students Graduating for a brighter future ahead.
Professor B.S. Sahay, Director IIM Jammu, in his welcome address, said that our vision is to develop leaders and entrepreneurs who can perform globally and give valuable contribution to the society.
He also expressed satisfaction that the recent hiring by Industries from the IIM, Jammu campus saw a hike of 31 percent for the first time. He also informed that by the end of the year, they will move to the state-of-the-art campus at Jagati.
Sahay said that apart from the off-campus at Srinagar, two new Centres of Innovation at Jammu and Srinagar have been set up.
Meanwhile, a total of 214 students were conferred with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree.
On this occasion, the Institute confers the Chairman’s Gold Medal, Director’s Silver medal and Chairperson MBA’s Bronze Medal for their scholastic performance. Sonali of the batch 2020-22 was awarded the Gold medal, Shraddha Shukla received the silver medal, and Raafeeq Dawara got the bronze medal. Kovind, presented the medals to the students.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) awarded the ICSI signature award to Sonali, who is the top rank holder in the MBA programme.
On this occasion, the President of India inaugurated the diversity cell at IIM Jammu for the SC/ ST Community in the IIM Incubation Center with the support of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DICCI).
The Diversity Cell aims to promote entrepreneurship in this segment of society for their economic and social upliftment.