VP Naidu says technology must provide solutions to rural life issues, economy

Stressing that quality higher education was necessary for accelerating the progress and development of our country, the Vice President wanted institutions of higher learning to open new horizons of knowledge and research at their institutions.

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon universities and institutions to constantly reform the system and ensure that higher education institutions deliver high-quality education.

Addressing the 9th Annual Convocation of VELS Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), in Chennai today, Shri Naidu referred to the transient nature of technology in a fast-evolving world and advised the students to regularly update their knowledge and skills to carve a niche in their chosen fields.

Stressing that quality higher education was necessary for accelerating the progress and development of our country, the Vice President wanted institutions of higher learning to open new horizons of knowledge and research at their institutions. Observing that one must not ignore rural India in our quest to scale new heights of growth, he called for an inclusive and all around the development.

Stating that technology was a great democratic leveller, Shri Naidu asked students and the youth to take care of the technological needs of our villages, agriculture and allied industry. He called for leveraging technology's potential for rural development and bridging the rural-urban divide.

The Vice President said that the technology must provide solutions to the issues of rural life and economy. He further said that India lives in its villages and the development of our country depends on rural India. You have a promising faculty in Pharmacy your institute should think of starting programs in Agriculture, Horticulture and Veterinary Science, he added.

Shri Naidu asked the students and the youth to not to fall prey to the distractions of modern lifestyle and he advised them to shun junk food to stay healthy. While expressing concern over the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, he advised everybody to change their lifestyles and food habits.

The Vice President presented Honoris Causa Awards to the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, the retired Indian track and field athlete, Smt. P.T. Usha and the Chairman of Kerry Indev Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Mr S. Xavier Britto.

The Founder Chairman and Chancellor of VELS University, Dr Ishari K. Ganesh, the Vice Chancellor of VELS University, Dr P. Swaminathan, the Members of the Board of Management and Academic Council, students, and faculty of the institute and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

(With Inputs from PIB)