The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Chandigarh, V.P. Singh Badnore today emphasised on the need of strengthening the rural infrastructure in the country in order to ensure ample employment opportunities to the educated youth living in the rural areas.Mr. Badnore was speaking after inaugurating a workshop on Developed Villages – Developed Nation: Role of Technical Institutions in Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna organised jointly by All India Council for Technical Education and National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research today at Chandigarh.Addressing the gathering he said that the villages all over India need to be made sustainable with all the essential facilities so as to desist the youth migrating to cities and other developed countries in search of greener pasturesReferring to the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna launched by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in October 2014, Mr. Badnore said that this is a rural development programme broadly focussing upon the inclusive growth of the villages. Heexpressed that major focus should be laid for development of villages into model villages under SAGY.
Appreciating the crucial role played by the technical institutions in the transformation of the villages, he said that a lot of innovations in the rural areas are possible with the help of AICTE and NITTTE. In this context, Mr. Badnore also mentioned that all the universities in Punjab and Chandigarh will also be encouraged to adopt villages in their vicinity to transform them into model villages.Prominent amongst others who addressed the gathering included Dr. A.P. Mittal, Member Secretary, AICTE, Dr. SS Pattnaik, Director, NITTTR Chandigarh, Dr. R.K. Soni, Director and Regional Officer; NWRO-AICTE and highlighted the various features of SAGY scheme implemented by AICTE. Ms. Sukhmeet Kaur from E-Governance Cell of AICTE also introduced the various features of APP on SAGY launched by His Excellency, Governor of Punjab.Ms. Bhargavi Dave, IAS, Addl. Commissioner from Gujarat also gave presentation on Gujarat Model of SAGY whereas Dr. U. Ramesh, Regional Officer, SWRO-AICTE, Bangalore presented Kerala Model of SAGY in their respective region. Dr R.K. Sharma, SAGY Coordinator from H.P. also addressed the audience.Dr U.N. Roy, Professor and Head, Rural Development Department of NITTTR, Chandigarh conveyed vote of thanks.