The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu has called for an enlightened and constructive debate on issues such as CAA, NRC, and NPR and urged the people to study in-depth and fully understand the background before reacting to any issue.

Inaugurating the Birth Centenary Celebrations of the late Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, Dr. M. Channa Reddy in Hyderabad, the Vice President said that violence and democracy do not go together and cautioned the people to not get carried away in this age of fake news.

As regards CAA, NRC and NPR, the people of the country should have an enlightened, meaningful and constructive discussion and not jump to hasty conclusions. Ours is a mature democracy and there is no place for violence in it, the Vice President stressed.

Stating that dissent or disagreement has to be expressed in a constructive, democratic and peaceful manner, he recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had eschewed violence in all its forms even in the face of most daunting challenges. “While protesting against the British rule, he remained civil even to his adversary. He called off Non Cooperation Movement after Chauri Chaura incident which had turned violent”, he pointed out.

The Vice President stressed the need for maintaining the dignity of Parliament and Legislatures and raising the standards of the debates. He said that personal attacks should not be made, while policies could be criticized.

Referring to the governance system, the Vice President called for reforming it constantly in tune with people’s aspirations. He emphasized that transparency, accountability and people-centric policies were essential to provide good governance.

He said that eliminating corruption, decentralizing administration, cutting down red tape, promoting online interface between government departments and the public and promptly addressing the grievances were important features of a responsive administration.

Paying rich tributes to Dr. Channa Reddy, he said the late Chief Minister was a grass-roots politician and a mass leader, who relentlessly strove to uplift the conditions of the common people. The fact that he had occupied so many high offices is a testimony to his administrative acumen and leadership qualities, he added.

The Vice President said that Dr. Reddy’s tenure as Chief Minister was marked by many developmental initiatives as he steered the State on the path to industrialization. He toned up the administration by cutting on red tape and simplifying procedures.

Recalling that agriculture was close to Dr. Reddy’s heart, the Vice President said that he had accorded the highest priority to improving the lot of the farmers.

He also stated that the late Chief Minister was a relentless champion of social justice and had introduced reservations for BCs in government jobs and education in 1980. As a firm believer in strengthening democratic foundations, he reduced the voting age for local bodies from 21 years to 18 years, the Vice President added.

The Vice President also conferred Dr. M. Channa Reddy National Award for Sustainable Development posthumously on eminent irrigation expert Late Shri T Hanumantha Rao. The award is in recognition of his revolutionary innovation of Four Water Concept (FWC) for watershed development.

Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Honorable Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Dr. K. Rosaiah, honorable former Governor of Tamil Nadu and others were present on the occasion.

The following is the full text of the speech:

I am pleased to be here to inaugurate the Centenary Celebrations of Dr. Marri Channa Reddy Garu, who had served the nation with distinction in various capacities. He was a visionary in the true sense and was gifted with remarkable administrative acumen.

Perhaps, he was one of the few leaders, who had served as Governor of four States, Chief Minister on two occasions and as a Union Minister. The fact that he had occupied so many high offices is a testimony to his administrative acumen and leadership qualities.

Indeed, Dr. Reddy was a grass-roots politician and a mass leader, who relentlessly strove to uplift the conditions of the common people. He was quick to grasp people’s problems and understand their aspirations. As a result, he used to give shape to policies that addressed their concerns.

Hailing from a farmer’s family, agriculture was close to his heart. He accorded the highest priority to improving the lot of the farmers and focused on agriculture in view of the primacy it deserves in our society.

He always had his finger on the pulse of the people and the fact that he served as Chief Minister of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh on two occasions in 1978 and 1989 showed how popular he was. A powerful orator in Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and English and a people’s man to the end, Dr. Reddy struck a special chord with the people of united Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Channa Reddy began his journey in the service of the country in his early twenties after giving up his medical practice and plunging into the freedom struggle. To this day, he is remembered for his powerful writings in the Telugu weekly, “Hyderabad” which he ran from Vijayawada during the struggle against the Nizam’s rule in erstwhile Hyderabad.

At the age of 31, he became the youngest member of the Provisional Parliament in 1950. He was inducted as a minister in the Cabinet of Shri Boorgula Ramakrishna Rao.

His tenure as Chief Minister of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh was marked by many developmental initiatives as he steered the State on the path to industrialization, even as he ensured that the state’s development was not at the cost of agriculture. He toned up the administration by cutting on red tape and simplifying procedures.

He also took steps to improve land administration and set up Land Development Councils.

He was a relentless champion of social justice and had introduced reservations for BCs in government jobs and education in 1980. As a firm believer in strengthening democratic foundations, he reduced the voting age for local bodies from 21 years to 18 years.

For the benefit of farmers, he introduced a scheme to provide subsidies on fertilizers and seeds. He reduced interest on agricultural credit and accorded top priority for creating irrigation facilities.

He exempted land revenue for small farmers having holdings of 2.5 acres wet and 5 acres dry land and conferred right of land to about 75,000 people by distributing 1.33 lakh acres.

In a bid to address the problem of unemployed youth, the Society for Employment Promotion and Training in Twin Cities (SETWIN) was established when Dr. Reddy was the Chief Minister.

During his second stint as Chief Minister, Remote Area Development programme was launched in some of the naxalite-affected backward districts to wean away youth from the influence of the radicals. He will be always remembered for implementing the World Bank-assisted Cyclone Emergency Reconstruction Project and for taking up modernization of irrigation structures in Krishna and Godavari delta regions.

As Union Minister for Steel, he introduced reforms to improve steel production and brought about decontrol of distribution of steel and coal.

As a young MLA, I used to vehemently criticize his government’s decisions in the Assembly. One of his great qualities was that he never held anything against even his most bitter critic. Always a keen listener, he used to reply to every point raised by me or other opposition members.

I had the opportunity to interact with him on several occasions and what struck me was his concern to address the people’s problems. I also found him to be a man of strong convictions and principles.

Dr. Reddy was known as a firebrand leader and had championed the cause of a separate Telangana State in the late sixties. It led the government to provide key safeguards, mainly in terms employment and education, to the people of Telangana.

Dear sisters and brothers,

As we recall the excellent administrative qualities of Dr. Channa Reddy and pay tributes to him, we need to understand the importance of constantly reforming our governance system in tune with the needs and aspirations of the people. Transparency, accountability and people-centric policies are essential to provide good governance.

Eliminating corruption, decentralizing administration, cutting down red tape, promoting online interface between government departments and the public and promptly addressing the grievances are important features of a responsive administration.

Before concluding, let me stress the need for an enlightened debate on any issue before reacting to it. In this age of fake news, one should be all the more cautious before reacting. As a matter-of-fact, one should first understand and study the issue in-depth, know its background and try to know what will be its impact. We need to focus on the issue rather than diverting from the main issue.

As regards CAA, NRC and NPC, the people of the country should have an enlightened, meaningful and constructive discussion and not jump to hasty conclusions either way.

We are an independent country and a mature democracy. It should be remembered that violence and democracy will not go together. Any dissent or disagreement has to be expressed in a constructive, democratic and peaceful manner. Apprehensions need to be answered and addressed by the government at every level.

Please remember that the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi eschewed violence in all its forms even in the face of most daunting challenges. His methods of protest were scrupulously non-violent. While protesting against the British rule, he remained civil even to his adversary. He called off Non Cooperation Movement after Chauri Chaura incident which had turned violent.

Gandhi Ji continues to inspire the humanity with his eternal values, powerful ideas and thoughtful actions based on truth and non-violence. As we are observing the 150^th Jayanthi of Gandhi Ji, it is all the more important for us to remember that his views and the message of his life are eternal.

Finally, let me thank the organizers for inviting me to inaugurate the centenary celebrations of Dr. Channa Reddy Garu. He was a great son of this soil and left an indelible mark on the Indian political scene.

A special function on the occasion to commemorate the 70^th Anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India, – “SamvidhanDiwas” was organized in the Central Hall of Parliament today.

The President of India, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs graced the occasion and addressed the gathering of the Members of both Houses of Parliament.

On this occasion, the President of India launches web-portal of the “National Youth Parliament Scheme” launched the Web-Portal of “National Youth Parliament Scheme”.

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has been implementing the Youth Parliament programme since 1966 in Schools under the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi and NDMC, KendriyaVidyalayas, JawaharNavodayaVidyalayas, and Universities/ Colleges. So far, around 8,000 educational institutions and more than 4,00,000 students have been covered under the Youth Parliament programme of the Ministry.

The web-portal of the National Youth Parliament Scheme is available at www.nyps.mpa.gov.in.  The main objective of the portal is to increase the outreach of the youth parliament programme of the Ministry to hitherto untouched sections and corners of the country.

The salient features of the portal are:-

• All recognised educational institutions of the country are eligible to participate in this programme.
• The registration for participation will be done by the education institutions through the web-portal.
• E-training modules, videos, photographs, and scripts are available on the portal for online self-learning of the participants.
• After successful registration, the educational institutions will be able to conduct youth parliament sittings in their respective institutions.
• Each student taking part in the sitting will get a Digital ‘Certificate of Participation’ and each Teacher-in-charge and Head of Institution will get a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ through the web portal.

This portal will give shape to the Prime Minister’s vision of organizing youth parliaments in all parts of the country.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today urged the media to not color news with views and stressed the need to maintain objectivity, fairness, and accuracy. “The neutrality and sanctity of newsrooms should be upheld at all times”, he said.

Speaking at an event organized by Press Council of India on the occasion of National Press Day, in New Delhi today, he said that the cardinal principle of journalism is to present fair, objective, accurate and balanced information to the reader and viewer without journalists assuming the role of the gatekeepers.

The Vice President further said that this has become all the more critical in the present times after the advent of the ‘fake news’ phenomenon and the huge impact social media is creating. “Sensationalism, biased coverage and paid news has become the modern-day afflictions of the media, he said adding that under no circumstances can slant and opinionated reporting be termed as ‘interpretative reporting’.

Shri Naidu expressed concern over the fact that business groups and even political parties setting up newspapers and TV channels to further their interests.“With this the core values of journalism are getting eroded”, he said.

Maintaining that freedom and responsibility cannot be considered as inseparable, he opined that media must not only act as the watchdog to protect democracy but must also act as the true champion of the underdog. It has to be in the vanguard of fighting the ills that are plaguing the society.

The Vice President said that the media landscape has transformed dramatically over the years and so have the values of journalism. In the past, journalism was treated as a mission for the nation’s service. Talking about the present state of affairs, he asked journalists’ bodies like PCI to do serious introspection.

Shri Naidu said that time has come for media bodies to come out with a code of conduct for journalists. “In view of the critical role journalism plays in protecting democracy and in serving the larger good of the society, we should strengthen this important fourth pillar by ensuring that ‘truth’ is never compromised”, he added.

Noting that mobile phones are revolutionizing the manner in which we share information, he said every smartphone user has become a potential journalist. “No doubt, the internet, and mobile telephony have democratized the availability of information. However, the glut of information is also generating fake news and fake narratives”, he added cautioning that, “journalists must guard against such news and fake narratives as they can be used by vested interests to create dissensions and divisions in our pluralistic society”.

The Vice President also appealed to media to provide greater space to development news and important sectors such as agriculture.

Admitting that legislations alone can not bring the desired change, he called upon the media to play a positive role in creating public opinion on the need to eradicate corruption and social evils like gender and caste discrimination. “We have seen the positive impact created by the media in promoting the campaign for a Clean India”, he said.

Talking about the abrogation of Article370, he said that it was only a temporary provision that was removed by the Parliament with a huge majority. He appealed to the Indian journalistic community to convey the right facts to the world about Kashmir.

During this occasion, the Vice President also gave away the awards to the winners of ‘National Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2019’ under various categories. Eminent journalist Shri Gulab Kothari was awarded the prestigious ‘Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award’ for his outstanding journalism.

Shri Naidu also released three publications namely – the Directory of Press Council of India since 1966, the updated Norms of Journalistic Conduct Edition -2019 and a souvenir, ‘Reporting-Interpretation–A journey’  on the occasion.

Union Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar, PCI Chairperson, Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, Convener, Jury Committee and Member, PCI, Shri Jai Shankar Gupta, and Secretary, PCI, Smt. Anupama Bhatnagar was among the dignitaries who graced the occasion. Representatives from various foreign countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar also attended the event.

Following is the full text of the speech –

“I am indeed extremely delighted to be amidst you all and share my views on the occasion of the National Press Day, which symbolizes the important role played by a free and responsible press.

It was on this day in 1966, the Press Council of India, a quasi-judicial body, started functioning as a watchdog body.

I am happy that several journalists in different areas are being honored for excellence in journalism today. My congratulations to all the winners!

Dear sisters and brothers,

Ever Since the launch of the first newspaper in India-‘The  Bengal Gazette’ by James Augustus Hickey in 1780, the press has been playing an outstanding role in empowering the people.

The press played a pioneering and stellar role in inspiring the masses to fight against the British during the freedom struggle and in strengthening the democratic foundations in the country since Independence. The nationalist role played by the newspapers and journals contributed in no small measure to influencing and moulding the public opinion during the freedom struggle.  However, during the Emergency, barring few exceptions like ‘The Indian Express’, ‘The Statesman’ and ‘The Mainstream’, the response of the Indian press by and large was muted during the Emergency.

The blank editorial published by The Indian Express during Emergency, under the leadership of Ramnath Ji, was perhaps one of the strongest protests ever published against censorship in India.

It spoke more loudly than any words could have.

When asked about his fight for the truth in the face of stiff resistance, Ramnath Goenka ji was reported to have said: “I had two options–to listen to the dictates of my heart or my purse. I chose to listen to my heart”.

The media landscape has transformed dramatically over the years and so have the values of journalism. In the past, journalism was treated as a mission and those who wielded the pen were committed to ethics and the highest standards of journalism. They used to work with undiminished enthusiasm and were overzealous in protecting their values.

The topic is chosen for discussion on National Press Day this year–“Reporting-Interpretation–A journey” is quite appropriate. News used to be news in the past and it was neither interpreted nor misinterpreted. News and views were easily distinguishable.

The times have changed and so have the trends. These days, there appears to be a very thin dividing line between news and views. The news story is not only interpreted in tune with the management’s line of thinking, but the treatment it gets conveys a lot.

Occasionally, we do find that even important and newsworthy developments do not merit a place on the front page and are rather buried in the inside pages.

The cardinal principle of journalism is to present fair, objective, accurate and balanced information to the reader and viewer without journalists assuming the role of the gatekeepers.

Fortunately for us, there are a number of journalists who follow these principles. And that is what makes the Indian media so credible and unshackled by constraints.

However, there are aberrations like in any system. It is one thing to provide an insightful analysis of a news development by substantiating it with facts and figures and another thing to build a story on conjecture. The essential challenge is when this trend tends to become a new normal. Under no circumstances can slanted and opinionated reporting be termed as “interpretative reporting”.

Perhaps, it would be appropriate here to recall the views of Mahatma Gandhi in newspapers. He had said: “One of the objects of a newspaper is to understand popular feeling and to give expression to it; another is to arouse among the people certain desirable sentiments, and the third is fearlessly to expose popular defects.”

Instead of giving expression to popular feeling, some newspapers these days are giving expression to coloured and partisan views. For instance, reading any one major newspaper in the past used to give a fairly good understanding of what was happening around the country and the world. But it is not the case now. One will have to read a minimum of four to five major newspapers to get a complete sense of the current developments. The same is the case with the news channels.

Time and again, I have urged the media to not color news with views and stressed the need to maintain objectivity, fairness, and accuracy. The neutrality and sanctity of newsrooms should be upheld at all times.

This has become all the more critical in the present times after the advent of the ‘fake news’ phenomenon and the huge impact social media is creating.

With the electronic and social media providing news by the minute with alerts and flashes on smartphones, journalists will have to exercise greater caution and guard against ‘fake news’, disinformation and misinformation.

Sensationalism, biased coverage and ‘’paid news’’ have become the modern-day afflictions of the media.

With business groups and even political parties setting up newspapers and TV channels to further their interests, the core values of journalism are getting eroded.

Without delving further into the reasons for the present state of affairs, I would like journalists’ bodies like yours to do serious introspection.

In such a context, freedom and responsibility of the media acquire far greater significance than ever before. Freedom and responsibility cannot be considered as inseparable and are inter-dependent on each other. The media has the onerous responsibility to not only provide unadulterated and correct information but also educate the people on their rights as well.

It should also be remembered that freedom of media is not absolute and is circumscribed by certain reasonable restrictions relating to the security of State, public order, decency or morality, defamation and contempt of court and sovereignty and integrity of India.

It should also be noted that during sensitive developments, vested interests use social media to spread fake news and disinformation.

Finally, the media must not only act as the watchdog to protect democracy but must also act as the true champion of the underdog. It has to be in the vanguard of fighting the ills that are plaguing the society.

The media must also provide greater space for development news and important sectors such as agriculture.

Since the press has the power to influence public opinion, the credibility of newspapers in particular and the media, in general, is extremely crucial. A newspaper with credibility will gain the trust of the readers and has the chance to establish a long-standing relationship with them.

In view of the huge influence in shaping public opinion, the role of mass media assumes greater significance in the present era. It can play a positive role in creating public opinion on the need to eradicate corruption and social evils like gender and caste discrimination. The investigative journalism that uncovered the Watergate scandal and the subsequent downfall of an American President is still fresh in memory. There are many instances in which the media and of late social media played a critical role—take the example of Egyptian uprising some years ago.

We have seen the positive impact created by the media in promoting the campaign for a ‘Clean India’. Thus, I feel that the press, TV and even social media must educate the people on important health issues such as lifestyle changes and the growing incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases.

Of course, mobile phones are revolutionizing the manner in which we share data, information, and visuals. With the number of smartphone users crossing 450 million in the country, every smartphone user has become a potential journalist. In fact, there are many instances where smartphone users have become “citizen journalists and virtually provided breaking news alerts to TV news channels. No doubt, the internet, and mobile telephony have democratized the availability of information. However, the glut of information is also generating fake news and fake narratives. Journalists must guard against such news and fake narratives as they can be used by vested interests to create dissensions and divisions in our pluralistic society.

Apart from enforcing self-regulation, the media must ensure that the core values of accuracy, fairness, objectivity, newsworthiness, and independence are never compromised. Instead of focusing on negativity, it is important for newspapers in a country like India to accord importance to development journalism.

Maybe the time has come for media bodies to come out with a code of conduct for journalists. In view of the critical role, journalism plays in protecting democracy and in serving the larger good of the society, we should strengthen this important fourth pillar by ensuring that “truth” is never compromised.

I compliment the Press Council of India for its role in promoting responsible journalism in the country.

Jai Hindi!”

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has stressed the need to introduce structural reforms to make agriculture profitable and sustainable.

Presenting Rythu Nestham Awards on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the publication of Rythu Nestham and two other journals Pasu Nestam and Prakruti Nestam at a function held in Swarna Bharat Trust, in Hyderabad today, he urged the Union Government and various State Governments to accord highest priority to agriculture, education and healthcare sectors.

With 60 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture, he said the foremost priority must be accorded to promoting agriculture and making it viable and remunerative. Observing that there was a need for agricultural renaissance in the country, he said that there should be more focus on ensuring insurance, irrigation and infrastructure development, apart from providing timely credit to farmers.

Pointing out that the Indian farmer was doing a pious duty in feeding millions of people, Shri Naidu said that the agriculture producer was getting less, while the trader was getting more. The government and the NITI Aayog should look into this aspect and make structural changes so that the farmer gets his due.

The Vice President also emphasized the need for diversification in agriculture and promotion of allied sectors like horticulture, poultry, pisciculture, aquaculture and sericulture to augment the income of the farmers.  Food processing was one area which has immense potential and needs to be fully tapped, he added.

Urging scientists to find ways for reducing the input costs for agriculture, Shri Naidu also called for revamping the curriculum of agricultural courses to ensure that students spend at 50 per cent of their study time by interacting with farmers in the fields. Spending time with the farmer in the field would be a huge learning experience for the students, he added.

The Vice President also cautioned people against the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases and said that it was important to adopt healthy dietary practices. He also advised people to protect nature and preserve culture for a better future.

The Governor of Telangana, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission,  Shri Yarlagadda Lakshmiprasad and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for collective efforts by the Government, NGOs and the private sector to remove economic inequalities in the country.

He lauded the efforts of various Industries and the NGOs in supplementing the efforts of the government in upgrading the skills of the youth and women through various programmes.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating a “Two wheeler Technician Training Centre” set up by Hero Motor Corp in association with Swarna Bharat Trust and SOMA Technical Training Institute at Nellore in Andhra Pradesh today, the Vice President said the training center is equipped with world class training facility and a fully automated workshop and supported by fully trained faculty. Trainees from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and other States would get hands-on training in bike mechanic course.

He appreciated the efforts of Andhra Pradesh government to touch 20 million people in AP in next 15 years and provide them with skilling and entrepreneurship to meet the skilled demands of seven missions launched by the government.

The Vice President said it was important to have skilled manpower with the needed skill sets in various sectors to drive growth. It was also important to reduce urban-rural divide in terms of ensuring equitable growth and creating opportunities, he added.

Referring to the call given by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to Reform, Perform and Transform, he said the connectivity revolution launched by former Prime Minister Shri A B Vajpayee was being accelerated by the present government to transform the lives of the people and fulfill their aspirations.

Referring to the various programmes undertaken by the Swarna Bharat Trust, he said that they were aimed at empowering the rural youth and women to stand on their feet by imparting the required training and skills in different vocations.

The Minister for Irrigation, Andhra Pradesh, Shri P. Anil Kumar Yadav, the CIO/CHRO, Hero Motor Corp, Shri Vijay Sethi, the Vice President of Hero Motor Corp, Shri Rajesh Makhija, the Managing Trustee of Swarna Bharat Trust, Smt. I. Deepa Venkat, Managing Trustee, Sri Muppavarapu Foundation, Shri M. Harshavardhan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Following is the text of Vice President’s address:

“I am delighted to be present here and inaugurate “Two wheeler Technician Training Centre” established by Hero Motor Corp in association with Swarna Bharat Trust and SOMA Technical Training Institute.

I am told that training center is equipped with World Class Training facility and a fully Automated workshop, with required Pneumatic tools & Precision equipment’s and supported by fully trained faculty. I am happy that trainees from various parts of Andhra Pradesh are going to get hands on training in bike mechanic course with qualified and professional trainers.

My compliments and best wishes to the Management of Hero Motor Corp and Swarna Bharat Trust for their noble mission of fostering skill development.

I was informed that Andhra Pradesh Government has formed 7 different Missions to achieve double-digit growth for the state and to make AP among the most developed state in the country. Among these, the Knowledge and Skills Mission has been formed to provide trained and skilled manpower to all other Missions.

I appreciate the efforts of the government to touch 20 million people in AP in next 15 years and provide them skilling and entrepreneurship to meet skilled human power demands of all Missions and shape AP as the hub for skilled-workforce and knowledge.

As we look forward to make India a global economic superpower and an epicenter of knowledge, we must ensure that we create an enabling environment for innovation to thrive. Innovation must be complemented by creating a skilled manpower by tapping the huge demographic potential in the country.

It is widely acknowledged that India has the advantage of Demographic dividend. The demographic dividend is the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population is larger than the non-working age share of the population.

India is a young, aspirational country. 65% of our population is below 35 years of age. 62% of our population is in the working-age group of 15-59 years. We have a workforce of 48 crores and more than a crore join the workforce every year.

It is the right time that we reap the benefits of our demographic dividend by providing skills. Skills and knowledge are driving forces of economic growth and social development for any country.

As we aim to become a developed country with a $5 trillion economy, it is important to have skilled manpower with the needed skill sets in various sectors to spur growth. It is also important to reduce urban- rural divide in terms of ensuring equitable growth and creating opportunities.

We also need to equip our students with effective communication skills. Mere degrees and diplomas will not make a person employable. For instance, a NASSCOM Survey (2011) found that only 25 percent of the graduates working in the IT sector have the required skills.

Therefore, your degree and diploma need to be supplemented by appropriate skills to take full advantage of the innumerable opportunities in the globalized and liberalized economic environment.

It is important to nurture the talent of our youth to disrupt the status quo and lead to radical innovations. Aligned with our growing economic profile, we have promoted skill development as a National Mission.

Universities should not only be the knowledge hubs but also need to emerge as the hotspots of research, incubation, and innovation. There is a great need to build a strong research ecosystem by collaborative, inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research initiatives.

Expenditure on Research and Development is a key indicator of private and public sectors effort to foster competitive advantage of Science and Technology. But in India, public expenditure on Research and Development is rather low.

Empowering the youth by skill-building is a powerful tool in current times. It will enhance the efficacy and quality of the work for improved productivity and growth in the future.

I am happy to learn that more than a crore youth are being imparted skill training annually under various programmes of the Government. 56 lakh youth have been trained under flagship Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, since its inception.

I am happy that government at the Centre and several state governments have been focusing on providing training courses and modules based on Industry requirements.

Our country is poised for a big transition. Youth are the agents of this transformation. I call upon each one of you to use the available programmes and expanded opportunities.

India is transforming and reinventing itself rapidly, inspired by PM Modi’s call to you “Reform, Perform and Transform”.

I urge each one of you to keep learning and improve your skills. Be lifelong learners.

Universities, higher education institutions must work with corporate firms and other industries to make students familiar with the skills required for the 21st-century technology-dependent job market.

We must build the required infrastructure for skilling existing and new entrants to the labor force. Here I would urge the Industry and Industry bodies such as FICCI, ASOCHAM, and others to play a more pro-active role in creating skilled manpower for various sectors.

I would also call upon every institution providing higher education to have a dedicated department to promote skills and entrepreneurship. Such a department must empower students to seek opportunities in entrepreneurship as well.

The Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, who began a three-nation tour to the Baltic region today, briefed the Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nauseda on the recent decision of the Indian Government to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that conferred Special Status upon Jammu and Kashmir. He said that was taken to ensure all-round development and extend  benefits to the people of the newly-created Union Territories.

During a tête-à-têtewith Mr. Nauseda in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania on the first leg of his tour, the Vice President asserted that the re-organization of Jammu &Kashmir was aimed at reducing regional disparity and improving administrative efficiency.

He also informed the Lithuanian President that more than 100 progressive legislations have now become applicable to the two Union Territories. They include reservation of seats for women in Panchayats (Local Self Governments), implementing child protection programs, ensuring right to education for children and protecting women from domestic violence.

He informed the Lithuanian President that Article 370 had enabled vested interests to create a climate of separatism and establish linkages with terrorist groups. This atmosphere encouraged the practice of cross-border terrorism. He also told him that although large resources were given to the state by the Union Government, there was no commensurate development.

Shri Naidu explained that the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir was completely within the purview of the Government of India. “We expect understanding from our international partners that this decision concerns our national progress and prosperity. It has equity and inclusion as the main objective”.

Observing that terrorism was one of the major challenges confronting the world today, he urged all the nations to intensify their collective efforts and strive to eliminate the menace of terrorism and also isolate nations which aid and abet terrorism.

The Vice President thanked the Government of Lithuania for extending its support and solidarity in condemning the Pulwama terrorist attack.

Both the dignitaries had extensive discussions on important aspects of bilateral relationship as well as global and regional issues of common interest. They renewed their commitment to further build on the long-standing friendly ties between the two countries.

They also agreed on the need for the UN to demonstrate a collective political will for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India many years ago.

They discussed the need for an early and comprehensive reform of the United Nation’s Security Council to make it more representative to reflect the realities of today and address current global challenges. They agreed to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries at the United Nations and other multilateral fora.

Both the dignitaries also discussed the huge scope for expansion of commercial and economic ties. Shri Naidu said that India was now among the fastest growing major economies in the world and wanted Lithuanian businesses to take advantage of the opportunities available in India. He praised Lithuania’s many achievements since achieving independence almost 30 years back.

Expressing his happiness over the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and the Indian delegation by the people of Lithuania, Shri Naidu said that both the countries have civilizational links that go back centuries. “Lithuanian is the oldest Indo-European language and it has strong links with Sanskrit”, he added.

The Vice President was presented a copy of the ‘History of Lithuania’ in Hindi. He expressed his appreciation for the publication- Comparative Dictionary of 108 Common Lithuanian and Sanskrit words. He said ‘We may now endeavour to compile and publish the comprehensive dictionary of 10,000 common words in our languages’.

The Lithuanian President and the Vice President witnessed the signing of two agreements on Agriculture and Allied sectors and Cultural Exchange Program from 2019-21.

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon government agencies, civil societies and NGOs to coordinate their efforts and step up the fight against human trafficking in an uncompromising, relentless and ceaseless manner. He observed that the war against human trafficking must continue until the last victim was rescued and rehabilitated and the last perpetrator was brought to justice.

Addressing the gathering after releasing the Training Manual on Home Management for Homes Meant for Sex Trafficked Victims brought out by Dr. Sunitha Krishnan and her NGO, ‘Prajwala’, in Hyderabad today, the Vice President said that human trafficking was much more than just a social evil and was a violent crime against humanity itself. He suggested translating the Training Manual into local languages for better understanding for the public.

‘It is a menace that violates all the basic tenets of human rights, justice, dignity and is often referred to as modern-day slavery,’ he added.

Saying that the Fundamental Rights that form the bedrock of the constitution guarantee the undeniable right to freedom and the inalienable right against exploitation and all forms of forced labor, child labor and trafficking to each and every citizen.

Opining that every citizen of this country has the right to secure and dignified life, the Vice President said that the constitution places the sacred duty upon each and every citizen to work hard to eradicate human trafficking.

“The entire society must unite for this cause. We must do our best to spread awareness about the nature of this crime and the need to focus on rescue and rehabilitation of survivors,” he added.

Shri Naidu also called for encouraging people to help and support the survivors of human trafficking to lead normal lives and re-join mainstream society.

Observing that understanding the victim and the impact of trafficking on the survivors was of utmost relevance for all stakeholders providing multiple services to the survivors, the Vice President opined that all the stakeholders must recognize the impact of violence, torture, abuse and exploitation of the survivors’ physical, mental, emotional, financial and spiritual health.

Shri Naidu opined that it was of paramount importance that an enabling and supportive eco-system for survivors to heal and lead normal lives was created and they were provided avenues for education, training, and employment to the survivors.

‘Special care must be taken in the case of child survivors, for the shock and trauma undergone by them would be immense. They would require a higher degree of care to make a full recovery,” he added.

The Vice President said that Safe Homes meant for care and protection face serious challenges in creating an enabling an environment for holistic rehabilitation for survivors coming from such severely abusive conditions.

“When survivors are rescued from exploitative situations, and suffer from the serious impact and consequences of such violence – their first and foremost requirement are a safe space and shelter towards their eventual rehabilitation,” he added.

In order to give encouragement and supplement the efforts of Prajwala, the Vice President announced his one month’s salary to the organization that has been taking care of victims of human trafficking.

Earlier, the Vice President inaugurated an exhibition on Human Trafficking.

The Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Ms. Debashree Chaudhuri, the Founder of Prajwala NGO, Dr. Sunitha Krishnan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Following is the text of Vice President’s address:

“I am very happy to be present here to release the Home Management Training Manual for shelter homes for survivors rescued from human traffickers.

At the outset, let me applaud the wonderful work being done by Dr. Sunitha Krishnan and her NGO, ‘Prajwala’, a pioneering anti-trafficking organization.

I am happy to know that, ‘Prajwala’, which had a humble beginning in 1996, has pan India presence today and also operating internationally. It is truly noteworthy that ‘Prajwala’s work covers all the five pillars of Prevention, Protection, Rescue and Rehabilitation of survivors of human trafficking and their Reintegration into mainstream of the society.

I am glad to note that ‘Prajwala’ has now become one of the most powerful voices, nationally and globally, speaking for the survivors of human trafficking and striving to secure holistic services to them.

My dear sisters and brothers,

Human trafficking is much more than just a social evil. It is a violent crime against humanity itself. It is a menace that violates all the basic tenets of human rights, justice, dignity and is often referred to as modern-day slavery.

Every year, globally, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers. Almost every country is affected by trafficking as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.

In some cases, traffickers trick, defraud or physically force victims and in others, the victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions.

Trafficking in persons has become an organized crime in the world. What is even more disconcerting is that this is a crime that very often remains hidden in plain sight, destroying lives and the social and economic fabrics of nations.

It is truly a matter of concern that India is also facing the problem of trafficking of men, women and children for forced labor or sexual exploitation.The annual statistics from the ‘Crime in India Report of 2016’ highlights that all States in India have reported cases of human trafficking.

Thankfully, due to the diligent efforts of the government and the work of dedicated civil society groups like Prajwala, 2016, we could witness the rescue of more than 23,000 survivors.

We simply cannot allow this most heinous of crimes to wreak havoc in human lives. Even a single human victim, is a victim ‘too many’.

Dear sisters and brothers,

I am confident that the government agencies, civil societies and NGOs will coordinate their efforts and step up the fight against human trafficking in an uncompromising, relentless and ceaseless manner. This war against human trafficking must continue till the last victim is rescued and rehabilitated and the last perpetrator is brought to justice.

The Fundamental Rights that form the bedrock of our constitution guarantee the undeniable right to freedom and the inalienable right against exploitation and all forms of forced labor, child labor and trafficking to each and every citizen.

Every citizen of this country has the right to a secure and dignified life.

Our constitution places the sacred duty upon each and every one of us to work hard to eradicate human trafficking. The entire society must unite for this cause.

We must do our best to spread awareness about the nature of this crime and the need to focus on rescue and rehabilitation of survivors.

People should also be encouraged to help and support the survivors of human trafficking to lead normal lives and re-join mainstream society.

Understanding the victim and the impact of trafficking on the survivors is of utmost relevance for all stakeholders providing multiple services to the survivors. All the stakeholders need to recognize the impact of violence, torture, abuse and exploitation on the survivors’ physical, mental, emotional, financial and spiritual health.

While the impact of the crime depends on the purpose for which the person is trafficked, it has been generally observed that those who are survivors of sex trafficking suffer from severe damages both to their bodies and also to their psyche.

Survivors suffer from shame and guilt and often somehow feel responsible for their own misery, and blame themselves. It is from these conditions that many survivors are rescued.

It is of paramount importance that we create an enabling and supportive eco-system for survivors to heal and lead normal lives. In addition to ensuring medical help, counselling and therapy, we have to provide avenues for education, training and employment to the survivors.

Special care must be taken in the case of child survivors, for the shock and trauma undergone by them would be immense. They would require a higher degree of care to make a full recovery.

In 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This UN resolution declared that such a day was necessary to “raise awareness of the situation of survivors of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”

International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity

When survivors are rescued from exploitative situations, and suffer from the serious impact and consequences of such violence – their first and foremost requirement is a safe space and shelter towards their eventual rehabilitation.

Safe homes meant for care and protection face serious challenges in creating an enabling environment for holistic rehabilitation for survivors coming from such severely abusive conditions.

I understand that this crisis laid the groundwork for the development of the Home Management Manual by Dr. Sunitha Krishnan. I am confident that the Manual will build knowledge and skills that will help in tackling the unique psychological conditions of a trafficked victim and create an understanding on the legally acceptable ways of home management.

It is my sincere hope that all government and NGO run shelter homes would utilize this Home Management Manual, which is the result of collective experiences of over two decades of Dr. Sunitha Krishnan and the very able staff of Prajwala.

While government action is crucial, the onus of preventing this crime is on each and every one of us. Our diligence and courage can indeed save lives.

I once again congratulate and extend my best wishes to Dr. Sunita Krishnan and ‘Prajwala’ and hope that they will continue doing this exceptional service to humanity in the days to come.

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Indian community was built on the foundations of fundamentally tolerant civilization and that the country celebrates religious diversity by upholding religious freedom.

Speaking at the Graduation Day Ceremony of the Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, in Hyderabad today, the Vice President said that India believes in inclusivity wherein every citizen has the same entitlements irrespective of his or her religious leanings.

Observing that every citizen was guaranteed equality without any discrimination based on religion under the Constitution, Shri Naidu said that the motto of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” has its roots in the core principles of Indian civilization.

The Vice President said that certain aberrations like looking at minorities as vote banks might have had some undesirable socio-political ramifications and added that the situation was changing as a new, young and aspirational India was emerging fast.

Shri Naidu said that equality of religions observed in all walks of public life in India enabled leaders from minority religions to rise to hold the offices of President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Justices, Chief Ministers, Ministers, Chief Election Commissioners, Attorney Generals and Army Chief’s besides making major contributions in other walks of public life like music, culture, sports, films etc.

Observing that India was the birth place of four major religions of the world – namely, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and a significant population of three other religions of the world namely Islam, Christianity and Zoroastrianism live in India, Shri Naidu opined that such cohabitation of the people of seven major religions of the world was a testimony to the values of fraternity, equality, assimilation and accommodation that were integral to Indian way of thought and living.

The Vice President said that all through the ages, Indian philosophers and rulers and the modern political leadership have expounded and upheld the principles of equality and tolerance. He also said that the world can be rest assured that India celebrates its religious diversity by upholding religious freedoms. No other country matches India in respect of such diversity and the commitment to preserve such a colourful mosaic, he added.

Calling upon the students to come up with innovative and out-of-box solutions to the challenges faced by the common man, the Vice President said that every technological breakthrough must aim at addressing challenges posed by climate change, pollution, rapid industrialization, urbanization, water shortage and agrarian distress. He also stressed the need to make agriculture profitable and sustainable.

Observing that higher education has a unique role in preparing torchbearers of tomorrow, Shri Naidu said that it was essential for institutions to mould the next generation by inculcating the core values of patriotism, honesty, social responsibility, discipline, compassion, respect for women and pluralism.

“The students have to be made aware of the need to preserve traditional values and to be socially conscious and empathetic. They also need to develop a positive attitude and shun negativism,” he added.

Advising universities and higher education institutions to accord greater importance to research and publication of quality papers in peer-reviewed international journals, Shri Naidu said every one of you should be aware of the importance of intellectual property rights and filing of patents.

Observing that India was on the threshold of emerging as a major economic power, the Vice President opined that the vision of higher education must be to realize the country’s human resource potential to its fullest with equity and inclusion. “Education is the single most important element in converting our young population into national assets”, he added.

Shri Naidu asked the graduating students, to be fearless in charting new territories and adopt team work as the success ‘mantra’.  He wanted them to dream big and work hard to achieve their dreams.

The Home Minister of Telangana, Shri Mohammad Mahmood Ali, the Vice Chancellor of Osmania University, Prof. S. Ramachandram, the Secretary, Sultan-ul-Uloom Education Society, Shri Zafar Javeed, the Chairman, Sultan ul-Uloom Education Society, Shri Khan Lateef Mohd. Khan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Following is the text of Vice President’s address:

“It is indeed a great pleasure to be here today on the momentous occasion of the graduation day.

At the outset, let me congratulate all the graduating students, their parents and the teachers. This is an occasion which you will cherish and remember throughout your life. This day is the culmination of many years of hard work and determination, a celebration of your talent and creativity.

I have no hesitation in saying that the technical training and professional and personal values instilled in you by this institution will stand in good stead in shaping your future, in meeting the challenges of demanding careers and in motivating you towards making a meaningful contribution to the society at large.

I am happy to know that Muffakham Jah (MJ) College is occupying a prominent place among the institutes of higher education in India.

I am glad to note that high academic standards, modern state of the art infrastructure, committed management, dedicated faculty and motivated students have taken this institution to the lofty position it occupies today at the national level.

I am told that students of MJ excel in both curricular and co-curricular activities and that its alumni are making the alma mater proud through their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to government as well as private sectors, both in India and across the world. Today, you join their ranks and I hope that you will inherit their legacy.

Indeed, this is a moment of great pride for all the young graduates assembled here and also a moment of reflection and introspection. It is a time for an evaluation of your achievements and to set new goals. As you tread a new path and build a new future, you must firmly uphold the values inculcated in you by your parents, teachers and this institution.

I hope that as you cross an important milestone in your life today, you will prepare yourself to make a positive difference not only to your life but also to the lives of fellow countrymen.

I am confident that you have acquired the necessary skill sets to excel in your chosen fields.

My dear young friends,

As India surges ahead as the fastest growing economy in the world, aspiring for a position of leadership in the world, you are expected to deliver innovative and futuristic solutions to hasten the pace of this transformation.

Progress is never a straight line. It is never an easy process. Progress has to be forged by dreamers, innovators and thinkers like you. Technology is an equalizer and an enabler of growth. We have to ensure technology is leveraged to improve the lives of people and move towards a sustainable and inclusive development. We live in an era where paradigm shifts in economic, cultural, scientific and technological arenas have completely transformed the way we live, the way we work and the way we communicate.

You will be called upon to merge pivotal concepts with critical thinking skills to achieve success in this era of intense disruption. Cutting edge technologies in the field of automation, robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are going to dominate the technical landscape and shall be the key components of many practical solutions.

I am happy that your institution recognizes the skill sets required for the future technology providers and has equipped you with useful ‘life hacks’ during your learning.

I am glad to share with you the latest global innovation index of India. Our country has improved from an index of 81 in 2015 to 57 in 2018.

This has been possible due to the enterprise and innovative thinking of our youth and the path-breaking schemes of the Government of India such as the Institute Innovation Council, Smart India Hackathon and Startup India.

Dear Teachers,

In the light of constantly transforming technology landscape, you have to be lifelong learners. You must remain conversant with niche technology areas like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Virtual Reality and 3D printing.

I am glad to learn that teachers of this institution are actively enrolling in courses offered through SWAYAM, Government’s indigenous Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) platform. It is the World’s Largest Online Free E-Learning Platform Portal designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy– Access, Equity and Quality.

Let me remind you that only those who challenge the mundane and embrace the new will survive in the competitive world of tomorrow and will be able to mould students into true achievers.

My dear young friends,

India is emerging as the land of opportunities.

As part of the 39^th Mission of PSLV, Indian space and research organization (ISRO) has created history by successfully launching 104 satellites into the orbit on a single mission.

As part of the ‘Gaganyaan’ Programme, the Union Cabinet had approved Indian Human Spaceflight Initiative with an outlay of Rs. 9023 Crores. This Programme will establish a broader framework for collaboration between ISRO, academia, industry, national agencies and other scientific organizations.

I urge academic institutions to come forward and play a very proactive role in this program. At the same time, you must also come up with innovative and out-of-box solutions to the challenges faced by the common man.

Technological advancements are important. But every technological breakthrough must aim at addressing challenges posed by climate change, pollution, rapid industrialization, urbanization, water shortage and agrarian distress in certain areas. We need to ensure that agriculture becomes profitable and sustainable.

While introducing the students to futuristic technologies, we must never fail to sensitize them to the principles of conservation and sustainability.

Higher education has a unique role in preparing torchbearers of tomorrow, it is essential for higher educational institutions to mould the next generation by inculcating the core values of patriotism, honesty, social responsibility, discipline, compassion, respect for women and pluralism.

There is also a need to include courses on values, morals and ethics in the curriculum. To be a good human being is as important as being a good engineer.

The students have to be made aware of the need to preserve traditional values and to be socially conscious and empathetic. They also need to develop a positive attitude and shun negativism.

Dear sisters and brothers, it should be noted that there cannot be any compromise on imparting qualitative education and our institutions must always strive to maintain the highest standards. Unfortunately, we are witnessing a race for quantity rather than quality. It is time for educationists and policy makers to address this issue.

As we all are aware, India has signed the Washington Accord under which accreditation is being done using globally accepted indicators. The efforts of statutory bodies will bear fruit only when each one of you is oriented towards quality. So, maintaining quality should become a compulsive habit.

Over the years, India has established itself as a major software service provider to the world with Hyderabad and Bangalore becoming the hubs in that area. However, remember that technology is constantly changing and coding skills alone will not take us far.

It is time to design, patent and deliver products.

This is only possible by inculcating a scientific spirit and research and development skills in students. I am glad that your institution understands this and has established research centers and allocated a separate budget for R & D projects.

Our universities and higher education institutions must accord greater importance to research and publication of quality papers in peer-reviewed international journals.

Every one of you should be aware of the importance of intellectual property rights and filing of patents.

I am glad to share with you that we have already started making our presence felt. In just one year time, India has moved from 44^th rank to 36^thrank in the International Intellectual property Index and we need to make every effort to figure among the top 10 in the world.

Entrepreneurship is another area that has been neglected in our institutions. Its time has now come!

I wish to recall the words of former Hon’ble President of India, Shri. APJ Abdul Kalam from his address to the students of IIT Guwahati in which he urged the students to develop as many ways of increasing employment in the country as possible.

My dear young graduates,

India is on the threshold of emerging as a major economic power and we are an old civilization with a young population which is a great demographic advantage for the country.

The vision of higher education must be to realize the country’s human resource potential to its fullest with equity and inclusion. Education is the single most important element in converting our young population into national assets. If the younger generation of our nation is empowered, it will constitute a very strong and productive workforce for the coming years.

Please remember that Culture is a way of life and Religion is a way of worship. Accordingly, I have the honour of asserting that India is a country built on the foundations of a civilisation that is fundamentally tolerant. In India, religious freedom is a Fundamental Right guaranteed under Articles 25 to 28 of our Constitution.

The preamble of our Constitution declares our country as Secular so as to guarantee every citizen of equality without any discrimination basedon religion, though our country is predominantly Hindu. This Constitutional prescription is nothing but a natural culmination of the core values of Indian civilisation that has evolved over the last 5000 years.

India is the birth place of four major religions of the world– namely, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Significant population of three other religions of the world namely Islam, Christianity and Zoroastrianism live in India. In fact, Indian Muslims constitute the third largest Muslim population in the world.

Such cohabitation of the people of seven major religions of the world in India is testimony to the values of fraternity, equality, assimilation and accommodation that are integral to Indian way of thought and living.

Equality of religions as observed in all walks of public life have enabled leaders from minority religions rise to hold the offices of President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Justices, Chief Ministers, Ministers Chief Election Commissioners , Attorney Generals and Army chief’s besides making major contributions in other walks of public life like music, culture, sports, films etc.

Certain aberrations like looking at minorities as vote banks may have had some undesirable socio-political ramifications but the situation is changing as a new, young and aspirational India is emerging fast.

The motto of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas’ has its roots in the core principles of Indian civilisation. We believe in an inclusive India wherein every citizen has the same entitlements irrespective of his or her religious leanings.

All through the ages, Indian philosophers and rulers and the modern political leadership have expounded and upheld the principles of equality and tolerance. The world can be rest assured that India celebrates its religious diversity by upholding religious freedoms. No other country matches India in respect of such diversity and the commitment to preserve such a colourful mosaic.

As you are aware, India is respected world over for its civilizational ethos, which is symbolized by age old values of non violence, peace and harmony and the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Dear youngsters,

You need to be fearless in charting new territories and adopt team work as the success ‘mantra’ because the unfolding technological ecosystem demands group-driven creativity.

Young people like you are the innovators, creators, builders and leaders of the future. You can transform the future of our country if you possess the right skills, values, discipline and determination to pursue your passion. But it would be possible if you dream big and work hard to achieve the dream. Hard work always pays off.

You have seen that Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Shantnanu Narayan , Geeta Gopinath are leading the world’s largest organizations like Google, Microsoft Adobe and IMF respectively. Many others like them have placed India on global leadership map.

Are you happy with just these few names? I am not. I aspire to see India producing hundreds of such technology leaders and I am confident that a day will come when all of us will collectively realize this vision. I am sure that many of you will be aspiring to be among those leaders. Dream big and work with single-minded devotion and dedication to achieve your dreams.

Today might be the last day of your student life. But be fully aware of the fact that your true learning actually starts from today.

As you build your lives and make your mark in this world, let the knowledge, wisdom, courage, values and empathy that you gained from this great citadel of learning guide you forward.

Your generation is very well equipped to deal with the challenges of the future, you are smarter, better educated, more resourceful, better exposed to the world, more open and environmentally conscious.

Look at problems with fresh eyes and unencumbered by prejudices. I am sure you will make all the right choices and make India a more prosperous, inclusive and just nation.

I wish you success in all your future endeavours.