Prez Murmu Says Student Suicides Matter of Concern
In her address at the Visitor's Conference, President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the importance of addressing student suicides and called upon educational institutions to prioritize the protection and support of their students. She highlighted the need for a safe and sensitive environment within campuses, similar to the warmth and security of students' homes. The recent incident of a 20-year-old student's suicide at IIT Delhi served as a reminder of the tragic occurrences happening in various educational institutions.
The President urged heads of institutions, teachers, and staff to be responsive and compassionate, just like sensible and caring family members. She emphasized their role as guides and parental figures for the students, stressing the responsibility to create an environment that fosters their well-being. President Murmu acknowledged the positive trend of increasing participation of girls in technology institutions and called for efforts to further promote the presence and excellence of women in STEM fields.
Recognizing the significance of higher educational institutions as global centers of knowledge creation and research, the President highlighted the contributions of Nobel Laureates and the collective effort to position India as a knowledge powerhouse. She emphasized that achieving the goals of higher education requires dedication, confidence, and hard work. The leaders of educational institutions were identified as crucial agents in transforming India into a knowledge superpower.
President Murmu emphasized the influential role teachers and successful individuals play as role models for the younger generation. She stressed the importance of setting high moral standards and examples through their conduct. The character-building of youth should be given priority in higher-learning institutions, with the aim of nurturing morally upright individuals who are well-versed in modern knowledge, science, and technology, and who will contribute to building a better society and nation.
During the event, the President presented the Visitor's Awards 2021 to recognize outstanding contributions in various fields. Venktesh Singh from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Central University of South Bihar received the Visitor's Award for "Innovation" for his development of indigenous Charge Pick-up Panels for Resistive Plate Chamber Detector using Silicon Fiber Sheet. Surajit Dhara from the School of Physics, University of Hyderabad was honored with the Visitor's Award for "Research in Physical Sciences" for his work in the field of soft matter and liquid crystals.
Mohammed Latif Khan from Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar was awarded the Visitor's Award for "Research in Biological Sciences" for his contributions in understanding forest biodiversity, regeneration of RET (Rare, Endangered, and Threatened) plant species, and assessing the threat status of forests in the Eastern Himalayas and Central India. The Visitor's Award for "Technology Development" was conferred upon K C James Raju from the School of Physics, University of Hyderabad for his advancements in frequency tunable microwave devices using ferroelectric thin films. Anunay Samanta from the School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad received the Visitor's Award, 2020 for "Research in Physical Sciences" in recognition of his research contributions to the spectroscopy and dynamics of short-lived chemical species formed upon photo-excitation of molecular systems and materials.