The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that enhanced focus on connectivity along with greater economic integration of our North East with ASEAN is crucial for the long-term progress, stability and better quality of life for all in the Northeastern region. He was addressing the Convocation of Tripura University, in Agartala, Tripura today. The Governor of Tripura, Prof. Tathagata Roy and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President said that the North-Eastern region is endowed with abundant natural resources, but difficult terrain, dispersed habitations, poor connectivity and inadequate infrastructure have been obstacles in realizing its true potential. The Union Government is keen to facilitate border trade between our North Eastern States and our neighbouring countries by setting up more border trade points and border haats, he added.Highlighting the investment potential of resource rich Northeastern states, the Vice President called on Union and State Governments to work hand-in-hand.Stressing on the need to improve Connectivity to bring North East region into the mainstream, the Vice President said that such a move would promote tourism, business and people-to-people contact.
Corridors of connectivity should be converted into corridors of economic growth, he added.The Vice President called on all Northeastern states to work on Joint Ventures and collaborate in areas of core competence such as horticulture, floriculture, traditional medicine, etc with ASEAN countries. It will open up new opportunities of employment and self employment to the youth of this region, he added.The Vice President said that education must bring out the best in each one of us. He further said that one must ensure that education system inculcates the strongest ethical and moral values and fosters the spirit of excellence. Education must also promote inclusive outlook, tolerance and compassion, he added.Reminding the students about Mahatma Gandhiji's views on education, the Vice President said that Literacy is not the end of education not even the beginning. It is one of the means whereby man and women can be educated. Literacy in itself is no education, he added.“An education which does not teach us to discriminate between good and bad, to assimilate the one and eschew the other, is a misnomer”, he said, quoting Mahatma Gandhi.The Vice President asked the graduating students to shape a system that will respond to the learning needs of the young population. He further said that we shouldn’t settle for anything but the best and you must seize these new found opportunities for growth and development. You must think and act innovatively and creatively to make a mark in life and never hesitate to take risks and explore unchartered territories, he added.