PM banks on huge investments in human resource development.
The prime minister on Saturday maintained that despite the economic slowdown, it was possible to achieve a growth rate of eight to nine percent per annum, last seen in 2003-2008.
Dr Manmohan Singh was addressing the 50th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IITB).
“The large investments in the development of human resources that we have made in the last eight year would facilitate this outcome,” he said.
“In the past year, India’s economy has slowed down and we have lived through a period of excessive negativism. The challenge before you is to retain your sense of hope and optimism,” he said.
A total of 2006 degree including 180 PhD degrees were awarded at the convocation and 55 students received medals in different categories. Singh mentioned that IITs have become an integral constituent of ‘Brand India’ and their immediate challenge is to make their curriculum more relevant.
“We still do not have the required number of such institutions to offer adequate development opportunities to all our bright youngsters. This is why our government took the initiative to expand the opportunities for higher and technical education in India. During the last eight years Indian higher education, as well as secondary and technical education, have experienced a quantum jump in terms of the investment being made and the number of seats being created for students,” he said.
While congratulating the graduating students, Singh recalled his school days. “I studied in the light of kerosene lamp in a dusty village that had no power, no school or no college. I had to walk miles to school. In all these matters, there has been an enormous improvement in the 65 years of independent India.”
Kapil Sibal, minister of human resource development spoke about greater financial autonomy for the IITs in his speech. “It is only with respect to financial matters that the IITs are circumscribed by government rules. This limits their autonomous nature to some extent. We are aware of this handicap and are seeking to remedy it by according to the board of governors, full powers in regard to faulty, financial and other matters,” he said.
Other dignitaries present were K Shankaranarayanan, Maharashtra governor, Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister, Dr Anil Kakodkar, chairman of board of governance, IITB and Dr Devang Khakhar, IITB director.
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