Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 30 developmental projects worth Rs 553.76 crore and laid foundation stone of 13 projects worth Rs 1220 crore in Varanasi on Thursday.
Prominent among the projects that were unveiled included the Rs 13.91 crore state-of-the-art Akshaya Patra Kitchen, which will prepare midday meals for one lakh children, studying in government schools of Varanasi, in one day. The kitchen is equipped with all the gadgets required for cooking huge quantities of rice, pulses, and vegetables in no time.
PM Modi also laid a stone for tourism-related projects worth Rs 151.68 crore, roads and bridges projects worth Rs 765.39 crore and other projects worth Rs 303.51 crore.
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PM Modi, addressing academicians who gathered in Kashi, from all over India, to attend the three-day ‘All India Education Conclave’ held at Rudraksh Convention Centre, said that the conclave will give a new direction to India. Modi said that India is very rich in diversity of talents and it is the duty of academicians and educationists to ensure that the institutions do justice to honing these talents, in order to prepare them for the challenges ahead.
“I interacted with the children of a government school in Kashi today and I was deeply impressed by their talent and confidence. I feel that these children deserve the best and should not find the higher institutions lacking in something when they join them,” the PM remarked.
“We should not create merely degree holders, but a generation that can bring about change in society with research and knowledge. We should ask ourselves if we are ready for the future, because unless we are, we won’t be able to do justice to this talented generation of younger children,” PM Modi added.
Pointing out that India, despite being the origin of traditional medicine, lagged behind some countries in this field, the PM urged scholars to promote evidence-based research for better outcomes. He also stressed the importance of having a multi-sectoral approach to development. Modi, however, added that things were changing in India and Indian universities have started entering world rankings, but they have a long way to go.
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The prime minister said that India boasts of having the third biggest startup ecosystem today and is scaling new heights in space technology research. Women are entering new areas which were, until recently, a taboo for them. Children are talking about gene mapping and genetic libraries. “So, it’s imperative for the institutions to keep abreast of the times in order to be future ready,” he remarked.
The PM said that there has been a 55 per cent increase in the number of medical colleges in India since 2014. He also talked about increasing the demographic dividend and working towards achieving a resilient climate and circular economy.
UP implements NEP at graduation level
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the National Education Policy was drafted when COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak and was aimed at linking education with life and livelihood. He pointed out that the NEP has also opened all the doors of knowledge for the first time after independence in one go. The CM said that Uttar Pradesh has implemented NEP at graduation level.