Missile Man pitches for Rural Growth,Dr. Kalam spoke to Ravenshaw University students.

Indian Express,Cuttack

Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam today called upon Ravenshaw University to spearhead a mission to bring about allround social development particularly in the rural pockets in its vicinity.
The University should consider adopting around 20 to 30 villages around it, covering a population of around 50,000 and implement developmental activities through establishment of PURAs (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas).
The PURA concept envisioned by the former head of the nation propagates development of infrastructure for bringing rural prosperity, mainly through creation of three connectivities — physical, electronic and knowledge. The basic objective is to bridge the urban-rural divide, ensure balanced growth and thereby stem rural migration, generate employment and improve basic amenities from roads, communication to health and education.
Delivering the First Convocation address of Ravenshaw University, he said the road to India’s transformation into a developed country as envisaged in the Vision 2020 goals lies in uplift of the rural areas and masses within. Educational institutions have a major role to play in furthering the mission. ‘‘In Periyar PURA at Vallam in Tamil Nadu students and teachers of Periyar Maniammai College of Engineering and Technology are working in around 60 villages involving over a lakh population. The results have been stupendous. And Ravenshaw can replicate the model here in its own backyard,’’ Dr Kalam suggested.
He emphasised on integration of the school syllabus and university with entrepreneurship courses to build entrepreneurs right from their school and college days. ‘‘Our education system injects nearly 10 million into the employment market every year but still there is large gap in employable skills. Therefore, focus should be on generating employment providers rather than employment seekers,’’ he said.
Agreeing with Dr Kalam, Governor and Chancellor of Ravenshaw University MC Bhandare urged students and faculty to devote at least 15 days a year for motivating and teaching children in villages and tribal areas.
The first convocation of the historic institution after it became a university to award degrees on the Class of 2007 had all the grandeur of the ceremony combined with an overt attachment to the cultural ethos of Orissa. The stoles donned by the students, faculty and ordaining officiary bore Sambalpuri motifs, which is a first for any such ceremony in the State.
Dr Kalam and Chancellor Bhandare awarded gold medals to the students excelling in different disciplines as well as the winners of the historic Bora Sambar debate and Inter State RTI debate. Among others, Vice-Chancellor Debdas Chotray, Dean NR Patnaik and Registrar Satyakam Mishra were present.