In order to effectively implement reforms in creating knowledge society we need to incorporate innovative practices, community-based activities and out-of-box thinking.This was stated by Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Prof. Amitab Mattoo while delivering the H.L. Gupta Memorial Lecture for the year 2018 on the topic “The Challenge of Building a Knowledge Society in Jammu and Kashmir” at Model Institute of Education and Research.Dignitaries present on the occasion were Dr. Arun K Gupta Chairperson MIER, Dr. Renu Gupta, Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Adit Gupta Director and Dr. N.R Sharma Dean Academics along with distinguished Educationists, Principals of different colleges, Members of the Governing Body and civil society and faculty and students of MIER College of Education.The function commenced with floral homage to late Shri H.L. Gupta, the founder of MIER Group of Institutions by Matoo.While expressing gratitude Dr. Arun K. Gupta, Chairperson MIER hoped that the lecture would be a befitting tribute to the great educationist, Shri H.L. Gupta.
While speaking on the occasion, Mattoo said that the knowledge has always been a factor of production, and a driver of economic and social development and the emergence of the knowledge society is bringing about a fundamental reshaping of the global economy.Prof. Mattoo said a knowledge society generates, shares and makes available to all members of the society, knowledge that may be used to improve the human condition. He elaborated upon the pillars of the knowledge society which include: ideas, the fourth industrial revolution and human capital.He deliberated upon how India survived and succeeded as a democracy its functioning after independence. He highlighted that even though there are many challenges in creating knowledge society in the state of J&K, we can capitalize on youth that constitute 60-70% of the population of the state who could be channelized across boundaries in strengthening and reshaping economic frontiers.A book titled “Implementing Inclusion in Schools” was also released on this occasion which is an attempt to connect theoretical framework with practicing strategies and global trends in inclusive education in addition to highlighting challenges and issues.