The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest on the occasion of inauguration of Maharaja Agarsen University at Kalu Jhanda in district Solan today.Governor Smt. Urmila Singh also graced the occasion by her presence as Guest of Honour. Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh welcomed the President and expressed gratitude to him for sparing his valuable time for inauguration of University. He said that it was a matter of proud and privilege that the President of India has graced the occasion adding that his words of wisdom would guide all of us especially the students in their pursuit for excellence and preparation for meeting the emerging challenges in day to day life.
Chief Minister said that Education, Research, Science and Technology were key to human development and Government had recognised them as major tools for development of human resources and upgrading human living. The State Government was spending 17.6 percent of the State's total budget on education and a sum of Rs. 3836 crore had been earmarked during current fiscal, he said. He said that Government was committed for providing quality education to the students and added that the Government had provided free travelling facility to all the students of government schools in HRTC buses from home to school and vice- versa.
He said that private universities were supplementing Government's efforts in spreading education and we expect them to maintain high standards of learning, research and education adding that dissemination of knowledge was a sacred mission and needs to be carried out holistically. He stressed for combining education with social, spiritual and scientific component so as to make it globally relevant. He said the objective of the Government was to bring technical and higher education within reach of the poor.
Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal while speaking on the occasion expressed his gratitude to the President for inaugurating the Maharaja Agarsen University.Sh G.S. Bali, Transport Minister while welcoming the President said that State Government was committed to provide quality technical and job oriented education to the youth of the state. He said that Government of India had approved to set up Information and Technology Institute in Una district, besides the Government proposes to set up Hydro Power Engineering College in Bilaspur. Chancellor of Maharaja Agarsen University Dr. Nand Kishore Garg welcomed the President and other dignitaries. He honoured the President and other guests with mementos.Prof S.P. Bansal, Vice Chancellor proposed vote of thanks.
Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, Vice Chancellor, HP University, Shimla, Prof. ADN Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary Shri P. Mitra, Principal Secretary Shri V.C. Pharka, Deputy Commissioner Solan Smt. Meera Mohanti, S.P. Baddi Shri S. Arul Kumar, Senior Officers of GoI and State Government, Trustees of the university and prominent citizens of the area were present on the occasion.