Centre, States must allot more funds for higher education: VIT founder

“If the Central and State governments increased their share of spending on higher education through greater allotment of funds and scholarships, more number of young men and women, especially from middle class and poor, will have access to quality higher education,” he said, while delivering the presidential address at the third convocation at the Chennai campus of VIT.

Even today, the Gross Enrollment Ratio in India stands at just 25 per cent and only six per cent of India’s population were graduates, he said. “We have to go a long way in increasing the number of seats in higher education,” he said.

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s view that higher education should be accessible, equitable and affordable, Viswanathan said that more scholarships should be provided, so that the more students are able to pursue higher education.

In his Convocation Address, Former Judge Justice K Gnanaprakasam said that the VIT, which had a strength of 180 students in 1984, has now grown into a very big institution.

He called upon the youth to play a key role in creating, sustaining and enhancing the relative competitive edge of India over other developing countries and to make an impact through their innovations.

He also warned them that the number of cybercrimes were increasing in the country owing to poverty and unemployment and appealed to the youth to be filled with constructive thoughts.

Over 1,300 graduates received degree certificates at the convocation.