Hyderabad: Need for greater role by youth in nation-building

Hyderabad: The Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, on Monday called upon the youth of the country to join the forces of growth and channelise their energies to build a resurgent India. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of Amenities Centre at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), the Vice President urged the youth to be the torchbearers in eradicating Illiteracy, combating diseases, meeting challenges in farm sector, ending social evils like discrimination in any form, atrocities on women and eliminating corruption.

He asked the young minds to come up with innovative solutions to tackle the pressing problems from coronavirus to climate change. Recalling that India was a global centre of learning in the ancient times with reputed institutions like Takshashila and Nalanda, he urged the faculty and students of UoH to focus on achieving academic excellence. Expressing concerns that only a few Indian Higher Education Institutions figured in the top 200 in the world rankings, he asked the multidisciplinary universities in the country to pull up their socks and strive to be amongst the best.

While urging the universities to become the centres of cutting-edge research, he advised them to establish close linkages with the industry. He expressed happiness that the new education policy proposes a National Research Foundation to oversee research in the country.

Observing that the country was yet to achieve 100 percent literate society even 73 years after attaining Independence, Naidu stressed the need for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to promote literacy and achieve the goal of a fully literate society. Referring to the fight against the pandemic, the Vice President lauded the selfless service rendered by frontline warriors like doctors, farmers, security personnel, sanitary staff and appreciated the Centre and all States for the measures taken to fight the pandemic.

Earlier, addressing the inaugural session, the Vice Chancellor of UoH, Professor Appa Rao Podile said, "Today is a special day for us as it is the inaugural of one of the iconic buildings of the University of Hyderabad. The new Amenities Centre was planned even before we were conferred with the status of Institution of Eminence by the Centre." Telangana State Minister of Home Mohammad Mahmood Ali, Chancellor Justice L Narasimha Reddy, Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. B Raja Shekar, Deans of the school and other officials were among those present at the occasion.