Key role for youth in 5 trillion dollar economy mission: VP

Delivering the 21st Convocation Address at Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College (Autonomous) in Tiruvanaikoil, the Vice President said that education must aim at character-building, inculcate moral values and develop social consciousness among students.

Every student should become socially responsible, imbibing qualities of compassion and empathy, he added.

Further, the Vice President (VP) said, “Our students must also be made aware of the importance of Indian history, culture and heritage and also, it must mould character and nurture students to become responsible, productive members of the society and equip them with the ability to overcome any adversity with equanimity.”

At this juncture, the Vice President said every college must also pay greater attention to skill development as India is blessed with a huge demographic dividend.

Students coming out of the portals of educational institutions must acquire employable or entrepreneurial skills to face the competitive world in this technology-driven 21st century, VP Naidu said, adding that the government has launched the ‘Skill India Mission’ to train over 40 crore people in several skills by 2022.

Further, the VP called for an urgent need to reorient syllabus and teaching methodologies in institutions to train students at a par with industry requirements. 

“Institutions such as yours must lay greater emphasis on skill development and establish industry linkages to give students first-hand experience of working in an enterprise and at the same time, cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship to enable them to stand on their own feet,” Naidu said, addressing the graduating batch in the audience.

As the country marches ahead with the quest to become a five trillion-dollar economy, our energetic, innovative and entrepreneurial youth will have a major role to play in achieving that goal, the Vice President said.

Besides, eradicating poverty, ensuring inclusive growth, making agriculture more reliable, remunerative and viable, bridging the urban-rural divide, empowering women, ending illiteracy, making effective use of programmes such as Make in India and Digital India will help in building a prosperous New India, Naidu said.

Addressing the audience, Venkaiah Naidu also stressed the need for imparting yoga training in schools and colleges. ‘’It is also necessary to curb the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases in the country and youngsters must avoid junk food and develop healthy dietary practices as food plays an important role in the overall well-being of an individual.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, en route to a college on the city suburbs to preside over a convocation, took security personnel by surprise when he got down from his car to watch the Cauvery river at Srirangam in the district, on Saturday. While passing through the Cauvery bridge, the Vice President, who was scheduled to address the graduating batch of Srimad Andavan College of Arts and Science in Tiruvanaikoil in the morning, told his security personnel to stop the convoy and got down from the car. He then was seen enjoying the “beautiful” and “majestic” Cauvery flowing. Subsequently, he returned to his vehicle and the convoy continued. The Vice President later tweeted on the incident. “Got down on my way from Tiruchirappalli to Srirangam to see the beautiful and majestic #Cauvery River,” he said. “Happy to see Cauvery in full flow. Rivers are the lifeline of human civilisation and everyone must strive to protect and rejuvenate them,” he added on the experience of stopping by the river which is considered to be the lifeline for the delta farmers.

Among the greatest things India has ever made, music stands at the top, as the art form stands as the only medium that unites people and brings about a sense of understanding among each other, said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in Tiruvaiyaru on Saturday.

Addressing the 173rd Aradhana Festival of Tyagaraja at Tiruvaiyaru, Naidu said that the saint composer of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja, was the most venerated treasures India has produced. Naidu stressed that the younger generation should get to know about the stalwart and get inspirations from his brilliant works that unites the people.

“Tyagaraja has composed several devotional numbers mainly in praise of Gods. The educational institutions, especially the schools, should come forward to sensitise the children to understand the diversified, rich culture of our nation which was left by stalwarts like Tyagaraja,” Venkaiah Naidu said.

The Vice President praised the majestic ‘Pancharathna Krithis’ - the five gems sung in five ragas with utmost devotion by musicians who come together from various parts of India and the world for the Annual Aradhana. 

“Thus, Tyagaraja stands as the most revered 18th century trinity of composers,” Venkaiah Naidu said while adding the others-Shyama Sastry and Muthuswami Dikshithar-whom he called the disciples of Tyagaraja, have been continuing to recite the hymns that were composed by the saint composer every year to venerate the holy man.

Among those present at the event were Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan, Thiyaga Bramha Mahotshava Sabha president GK Vasan and others.