Jammu: “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and the country is capable of solving its own problems,” Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said here Friday, asking other nations to “confine themselves to their domestic problems” rather than giving unsolicited advice to India.
On his first Jammu and Kashmir visit since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370, he said, without naming any country or individual, some people from the neighbourhood always try to create problems and disturbances because they do not want India to progress.
“My advice to some friends, who are trying to give unasked advice to us in between and make commentaries, is to confine themselves to their domestic problems. We are capable of taking care of our own problems and they need not worry about us,” he said, addressing the 3rd and the 4th annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) here.
The convocation for two batches was held together as the 3rd was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Union minister Jitendra Singh and J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also attended the function, during which degrees were awarded to 148 MBA graduates who successfully completed their courses.
“My dear youngsters, where you are studying is an integral part of India,” the vice president told the students. “And we are of the opinion we are capable of solving our problems. No country for that matter has any business to interfere or make comments on the internal affairs of another country or any other country.”
In his nearly half-an-hour speech, he said, “We all believe in democracy and civilization. If you are really civilised you are not expected to interfere in the affairs of any other country. I am very clear about it.”
He said this part of the country is very beautiful and so are the people who need to have peace.
“Peace is the prerequisite for progress. If you have tension, you cannot pay attention. This has to be understood by one and all. That is why peace is very much required,” he said.
The vice president said some people from the neighbourhood always try to create problems and disturbances for India.
“We should not allow them to succeed. We should be guided by the spirit of national integration – nation first, party and profession next and self last. That should be our attitude — nation first attitude — irrespective of caste, creed, sex, religion and region,” he said.
He added, “We are all Indians – we may belong to Jammu, Kashmir, south or north. We must remember that we are all sons of this country and we should feel proud that we are Indians.”
He said the country is moving forward and “we must fast forward it. The entire world is looking towards India and (the country is being respected worldwide).”
He said India is the “most favourite destination” for investment. “With the ease of doing business, the reforms brought in by the Prime Minister and the new ideas, the world is looking towards us and we have the potential to take advantage of that. See to it that we become a strong, stable, peaceful and prosperous nation,” he told the students. (With PTI inputs)
Naidu asks edu institutions to design courses to meet new world realities
Jammu: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Friday called upon national institutions like IIMs to offer innovative courses and diplomas based on new market realities and demands of the fourth industrial revolution.
He also stressed the need for reorienting higher education in tune with the realities of the world and called for bringing diverse fields like agriculture, business, technology, humanities and management together through these courses.
“This is the spirit of the multidisciplinary push of the new education policy. Remember, we cannot solve the problems of the future with the same superficial, segregated approach of the past,” he said.
Besides the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, IIM Jammu Chairman, Board of Governors, Milind Kamble and Director B S Sahay, and other staff and the passing-out students and their parents were present on the occasion.
Noting that the coronavirus pandemic has shown the necessity and potential of technology in delivering education, Naidu called for more extensive and prudent use of technological tools.
However, in this process, the existing digital divide should not widen, he cautioned.
“The most remote areas and most underprivileged students should be enabled to benefit from this technological revolution,” he emphasised.
He said national institutions like IIMs need to offer innovative courses and diplomas based on new market realities and demands of a fourth industrial revolution.
Underlining the importance of developing a mindset that encourages innovation and institutional reform which fosters creativity and promotes excellence, Naidu told the students that as future managers they have to respond to the very rapidly changing world.
“Your ability to take decisions in an uncertain world and your agility to adapt to new contexts will become very crucial,” he added.
He advised institutions of higher education to “adapt, evolve and respond” to these never-seen-before situations.
Calling upon the aspiring entrepreneurs, managers and consultants to identify innovations at the grassroots and use their expertise to achieve scale for indigenous solutions, he urged them to bring in technology to complement the traditional skills and increase farm productivity to help farmers.
Naidu also urged the graduating management students to work with farmers in improving the marketing of farm produce.
“e-NAM is a great tool for better price realisation. This should be further scaled up and new innovations be brought into post-harvest facilities,” he said.
“India is making great strides to fulfilling the aspirations of people. The youth is the biggest resource and partner for our country in its journey of development. Endowed with immense demographic dividend, we have the potential to achieve anything,” he said.
Describing skill development and quality education as “crucial development accelerators”, he stressed the need for enhancing access to and quality of education.
Naidu also stressed that industry-institute linkages be strengthened further. “Our industry will also greatly benefit from the fresh perspectives young minds can offer,” he added.
