Equip the students to emerge as job creators and not mere job seekers: Vice President

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu graces Utkal University’s 50th Convocation ceremony

Bhubaneswar (Kalinga Voice): “I urge upon the younger generation to pledge to fight against gender discrimination. Our youth should be at the forefront of fighting all social evils like casteism, communalism, corruption, and violence,” said Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, in his address during the 50th Convocation ceremony of Utkal University. Shri Naidu graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest and awarded the Ph.D. degrees for the academic year 2019-20. The Hon’ble Governor of Odisha and Chancellor, Utkal University, Prof. Ganeshi Lal opened the convocation ceremony. 

On this occasion, five Doctor Honoris Causa were conferred upon five eminent Odias who have excelled in different fields in the country. They are Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Shri Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General of India who is also the chairman of the panel of external auditors of the United Nations, Hon’ble Justice Sanju Panda, Orissa High Court, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and Shri Bijaya Sahoo, Advisor, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan (OAVS). 

Vice-President congratulated Utkal University on being accredited with an A+ Grade by NAAC and for keeping its high educational standards and uncompromising adherence to excellence. He congratulated all awardees and Gold medalists and said that the primary aim of education is not only cognitive development but also building character and creating well-rounded individuals equipped with the key 21st-century skills. He spoke about the rich maritime history of Odisha and urged the educational institutions of the state to keep to the legacy of entrepreneurship by equipping the students with skills so that they can emerge as job creators and not mere job seekers. 

Shri Naidu touched upon the uniqueness of the sizable tribal population of the state in his address. A study by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) has revealed that the tribal population was largely untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic owing to its unique customary practice and traditions. The Vice-President suggested universities to take up research on issues faced by tribals and actively contribute to policy formation for their development and well-being. He further suggested making disaster management an integral part of our education which would prepare us better to face any such calamities in the future. 

The Chancellor, Utkal University Prof. Ganeshi Lal conferred the degrees upon the Ph.D. awardees and administered  the oath to them in the ceremony. While congratulating the gold medallists he urged upon the students to combine compassion with the knowledge to promote a culture of caring in our Nation. Prof. Sabita Acharya< vice Chancellor presented the university report and said, “As we navigate through the new decade especially with so many challenges presented by the current pandemic, our vision for the future must be based on inclusion, diversity, and innovation.” She expressed pride in the achievements of the students and faculty and said that this day marks a new beginning for the university. She also took the opportunity to express her heartiest thanks on the University’s behalf to the Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel for the generous contribution of his one year’s salary towards the development of his alma mater; Utkal University.

A total of 40 Ph.D. degrees and 90 Gold medals/endowment prizes were awarded in the ceremony. The Minister, Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha, Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo awarded the Gold medals to the awardees. Dr. Avaya Kumar Nayak, Registrar, Utkal University proposed the formal vote of thanks. 

The ceremony was held in the newly constructed convocation hall in the campus and was conducted by following all COVID-19 protocols strictly. The University had decided to allow 500 participants but it curtailed the number of participants to 200 on Friday as per recently announced SOP guidelines. All attendees had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests before the event.