Pallam Raju, Kumble focus on tapping youth talent

93rd convocation of UoM held; 4 dignitaries conferred hon doctorates

Union Minister for Human Resources Development M M Pallam Raju on Friday emphasised on honing the skills of youth who form majority of the population in the country.

Delivering the convocation address at the 93rd convocation ceremony of the University of Mysore, the Minister said that following the implementation of Right to Education Act (RTE), an additional 23 crore children have been admitted to the schools. “It is also a big achievement for the nation. In this wake, focus should be on converting the youth force into a skilled lot and it’s the responsibility of the government,” he said.

The Minister said that by the year 2020, the number of people availing higher education should be increased from the current 18 pc to 30 pc. To achieve this, both the universities and government should work in tandem.

Giving a call to educated people in the society, the Minister said that they should  lead the not so fortunate brethren “in the path of virtue and morality”.

The Minister said that the most pressing problems of the nation was hunger, shelter and literacy.

Stint at NIE

Going down memory lane, Raju also recalled his brief stay in the city for a period of one month at National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysore during 1981. “I was in the football team and it was raining that day,” reminisced the Minister. He later returned to his home town Andhra Pradesh, as it was a four-year degree in Mysore, against three years at his native.

Speaking after accepting the honorary doctorate noted scientist Roddam Narasimha said that the policy makers in the field of education should focus on teachers and students. Recalling the earlier days, when teachers were revered as gods, Roddam said that his three teachers who were par excellence.

Roddam said that the country too was riddled with problems and that it had to think on par with both the western and eastern countries.

Cricketer Anil Kumble, gave a clarion call to channelise the energy of the youth in the right direction. Quoting the slogan of the University, he said nothing was greater than knowledge. “As a cricketer, I always focused on enriching my knowledge by watching others bowl, and bettering myself, remaining oblivious to the outside world.”

Gandhian H Srinivasaiah said that at the time when human values were fast eroding, youth should develop courage to lead the gandhian way of life. Legal luminary, T K Vishwanathan termed the occasion as special, as he had just completed four decades of his legal career.

In all, 21,038 candidates were awarded with various degrees.  A total of 363 PhDs were conferred in 50 subjects, with men topping with 231 candidates (63.6 per cent) against 132 women (36.4 per cent).