CONVOCATION ADDRESS LALIT NARAYAN MITHILA UNIVERSITY AND INAUGURATION OF THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DARBHANGA
30-12-2005 :
Darbhanga
Agriculture and agro food processing
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As you all are aware, India is now producing about 200 million tonnes of food grains,
as a result of the first green revolution piloted by the political
leadership of Shri C. Subramaniam, the scientific leadership of Dr. M.S.
Swaminathan and willing farmers. India has now embarked on Second Green
Revolution which will enable increase in productivity and
diversification of the agricultural sector. The second green revolution
will have the farmers in focus, farming technology as the friend, food
processing and marketing as partners and the consumers as customers.
From now on to 2020, India will gradually increase the production to
around 400 million tonnes of grains. The increase in the production will
have to be done under the reduced availability of land from 170 million
hectares to 100 million hectares with reduced water availability. We
should also learn to diversify to meet specific consumer preferences,
export markets and also in the interest of ecological balance. This is
to be achieved through information access to all stakeholders and not
with central controls or restriction of movements of agro products.
In addition to this, there is a large potential in medicinal,
floriculture and aromatic plants in view of the large bio-diversity
potential of India. We have to aim at one billion dollar export
potential for all the three areas including orchids which can grow
naturally in certain districts of Bihar. Now I would like to discuss
interlinking of rivers which is very essential for Bihar.
Interlinking of rivers
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Interlinking of rivers is essential for controlling floods and droughts, for making drinking water
available to all regions, for transporting goods and navigation, for generating more
cultivable land and generation of Hydel power. And above all the
networking of rivers will lead to environmental upgradation and national
connectivity.
Science and Technology can surely help in executing
such missions. India has its own remote sensing satellites and their
applications will help in large-scale survey from the source and river
flow pattern at various seasons. Optimum water routes, mapping of the
environmental profile can be evolved using virtual reality through
satellite and aerial imageries. The remote sensing satellites, which has
been launched namely CARTOSAT-I will give extensive mapping and
infrastructure for executing the interlinking of rivers. The defence and
nuclear technologies can be considered for the creation of series of
canals and pumping stations in mountain areas. This mission will have to
enlist all the connected departments of government, industries, academic
and research institutions. The interlinking of river mission is
particularly important for Bihar since North Bihar is flooded as soon as
Kosi river is in floods. It is only in 2005 we did not have this
situation when floods were experienced by many other States.
To permanently eliminate the problem of floods I would recommend
departments of Lalit Narain Mithila University to study the flood
patterns which have occurred during the last 30 years and prepare a long
term plan for containment of flood. In the Gangetic plain, I would
recommend the construction of layered wells in the entry points of Kosi
river from Nepal. These layered wells will store the floodwater at
different levels and will control the devastating effects on low-lying
areas. The water thus stored will be useful during shortage period. A
multi disciplinary team from this University consisting of students and
staff could be nominated for this purpose.
The PURA enterprises, agriculture and agro-processing industries and
interlinking of rivers will generate large scale entrepreneurial and employment
opportunities for the graduates and post-graduates completing their education from
this university.
Employment Generation through entrepreneurship
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There has been substantial growth in our higher
educational system and we are generating over 3 million graduates every
year. However our employment generation system is not in a position to
absorb the graduates passing out from the universities leading to
increase in educated unemployed, year after year. There is a large
mismatch between the skills required for the modern economy and the
education imparted to most of these students. In addition, economic
growth and investments have not kept pace with the availability of human
resources. This situation will lead to instability in the social
structure.
We need higher education focused on and oriented towards
high value and productive employment opportunities. A three pronged
strategy is needed to make education more attractive, make it skill
imparting and simultaneously create employment potential ? how do we do
that?
Firstly, the educational system should highlight the
importance of entrepreneurship and prepare the students right from the
college education to get oriented towards setting up of the enterprises
which will provide them creativity, freedom and ability to generate
wealth. Diversity of skills and perseverance in work makes an
entrepreneur. It should be taught to all the students. In addition,
college syllabi even for arts, science, and commerce courses should
include topics and practical where such entrepreneurship is possible.
Secondly, the banking system should provide venture capital right from
every village level to the prospective entrepreneurs for undertaking new
enterprises.
Thirdly, there has to be an economic pull for human
resources; for example generation of marketable products and enhancement
of purchasing power among the people through the implementation of
national missions. The educational institutions, Government and the
private enterprises should become facilitators for creating this
entrepreneurship scheme through the support of the banking system and
the marketing system. Entrepreneurs have to produce the competitive
products for becoming successful in their missions. I am sure that many
of you would explore the possibilities of becoming entrepreneurs and
become the employment generators rather than employment seekers.
Conclusion
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In 1952 Prof Paul Henson Appleby of the University of
California in his detailed report evaluating public administration in
the various States of India presented to the then Prime Minster Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, had concluded that Bihar was the best administered
State in India in 1952. Bihar has a cultural ethos which can enable you
to chart a new course for its progress; what is needed is a deliberate
will and an inclination to set aside short term self-destructive
priorities and programmes, and evolve an agenda based on honesty of
purpose, sincerity and a positive will to move ahead in every field. In
this noble task, the younger generation has an extremely important role
to play. You, disciplined and educated young members of the society,
have to carry the future on your capable shoulders individually and
collectively with single-minded devotion. I have no doubt that this is
possible and when this is possible, the future is bright and certain. It
should be yours for the asking. Your history has the foundation;
rebuilding the future consistent with that historical magnificence will
be a divine task ordained by the virtues of honesty, discipline and
sincerity. Evolve a coordinated vision based on these eternal values and
chart out a constructive agenda which will take the State irrevocably on
the road to a brilliant all-round future. I have no doubt that all of
you will devote yourselves to this noble endeavor.
Once again let me congratulate all the outgoing graduates and inaugurate the Women?s
Institute of Technology in this campus. My best wishes to all the
members of Lalit Narayan Mithila University for success in their mission
of promoting quality education in Bihar and development of enlightened
citizens.
May God bless you!
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