The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, V.P. Singh Badnore today urged the universities and colleges to adopt at least 5 villages around its vicinity to support its development into model villages and ensure inclusive growth in the rural areas as a part of their University Social responsibility.In his presidential remarks on the first ever Conference of the Vice Chancellors held here in Chandigarh on this subject, the Governor said that divide between the Urban India and the Rural India has got to be be bridged. He also said that there was an urgent need to involve the educational institutions especially the Universities in the Nation’s development agenda.He said it is important for students of institutions of higher learning to remain connected with their roots and the societies they come from.It is for this reason that is suggested that each and every college in Punjab should adopt at least one to five villages around its vicinity to support its development into a model villages.On the implementation of Government of India’s Flagship programs, the Governor saidUniversities campuses can be shining models of these schemes for others to emulate. The pioneering schemes introduced by the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi such Swachh Bharat, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Digital India, Startup India – Stand up India, Smart Cities Mission, Khelo India etc. are models of innovations and inclusive development which need to be implemented in the university campuses as exemplary models . On the occasion, the Governor also announced to institute Annual Awards ‘Governor’s Model Village Development Support Award’ to the Colleges for excellent work done in university governance.
In his exhaustive presentation on the implementation of National Schemes in the Universities, Mr. J.M. Balamurugan, Secretary to Governor emphasised on ensuring the implementation of National Flagship Programmes envisaged by the Prime Minister, in both letter and spirit. He also said that under “ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat”, exchange programs of students and faculty with other Universities in India and overseas should be planned. The campuses should be opened to the public especially the students of rural areas for organised visits. Employment Oriented training should be imparted under Entrepreneruship development programs, and students should be become job providers rather than job seekers,he added.To encourage a spirit of excellence amongst the institutions, the Annual Governor’s Award for excellence will be given in the University Governance on Swachhta, Smart Governance, Green Campus, Community Programs and social enterprise development etc.He also said that Chancellors’ Emissionaries would be appointed who would have quarterly visit to the institutions to interact with the fauclty and students for better coordination.Prominent amongst others who addressed the august gathering included Mr. S.K. Sandhu, ACS Higher Education, Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Scientific Secretary Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Dr. (Mrs) Pankaj Mittal, Additional Secretary UGC, New Delhi, Ms. Tanu Kashyap, Joint Development Commissioner Punjab.
The special Invitees who attended the Conference include Dr. K.K. Talwar, former Director PGI, Lord Diljit Rana, Cordia Group of Educaitonal Institutes, Mr. S.S. Pattnaik , Director NITTTR, Mr. Arun Grover, former Vice Chancellor of Punjab University, Prof. Jairup Singh, former Vice Chancellor GNDU, Dr. Amod Gupta, Prof. Emeritus, PTI, Prof. S.S. Chahal, Dean PAU, Pro Ropinder Tewari, Punjab University, Prof. Manmohan Gupta, Punjab University and Shri JPS Bindra, Chief General Managere, NABARD. The Vice Chancellor who attended the Conference included Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor, GNDU, Dr. B.S. Ghuman, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice chancellor, PAU, Ludhiana, Dr. Raj Bahadur, Vice Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Paramjit Singh Jaiswal, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Naitonal Law University, Patiala, Mr. Ashok Mittal, Chancellor Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Punjab University, Chandigarh, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice Chancellor Chitkara University, Dr. R.K. Kohli, Vice Chancellor Central University, Bathinda, Dr. A.S. Nanda, Vice chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Dr. Rakesh Sharma of Guru Ravidas Ayurvedic University, Hoshiarpur and Dr. Daljit Singh, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, Kharar.