SME Times News Bureau | 14 Mar, 2019
Vice
President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for bridging the urban-rural divide and
said that Centre and State Governments must accord highest priority for the
development of villages and rural areas by creating all the basic amenities.
Addressing the students of Rajiv Gandhi
University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), in Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh, Naidu
cautioned that it was not good to have two India’s - one comprising developed
urban cities and the other backward rural areas. We must remove the Urban-Rural
divide, he added.
Pointing out that people were migrating to cities
for education, enhanced medical facilities and economic activities, he said
that the facilities available in urban cities must be provided in rural areas
also..
Complimenting the university for imparting high
quality technical education to meritorious rural youth, he said education w the
main instrument for socio-economic transformation of nation and lays foundation
for building a knowledge society.
It is important in today’s world for education
system to produce holistic individuals, who are committed to strong ethical and
moral values, he added.
Naidu said that education means the process by
which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, and intellect is
sharpened, as a result of which one can stand on one’s own feet.
True education equips the youth to contribute to
the material progress of the country, he added.
Expressing his concern that the present education
system was merely producing students with degree certificates rather than
individuals with critical analytical skills and innovative thinking, the Vice
President said that institutions of higher learning such as RGKUT must prepare
a large group of skilled and capable workforce who can drive the economy of the
nation and help the nation to deal effectively with various challenges such as
agrarian distress, rapid urbanization, growing energy demand, climate change,
global warming, urban-rural divide and economic disparities.
Observing that today’s world was dependent on the
competitive use of knowledge and innovation, he urged the students of
technology to strive for coming up with practical, low cost solutions to the
problems faced by the society.
"Our technocrats need to find indigenous
solutions rather than look up to alien concepts and practices. As you all are
aware, the sole purpose of Science and Technology is to make the lives of
people better, the Vice President added.
Naidu said that despite the advancement in
technology and economic progress, a considerable section of our citizenry was
still lacking access to essential resources.
He advised the students to rise to the occasion
and provide solutions to most pressing problems such as ensuring potable
drinking water to every household, eliminating malnutrition and making
healthcare affordable and accessible.