The Hindu Business Line : Varsities need to be given functional autonomy: Kalam

THE PRESIDENT, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, releases the commemorative stamp and first day cover at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Madras University in Chennai on Monday. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, receives the first copy. (From left) Mr Arjun Singh, Union Minister for Human Resources, Mr S.P. Thiyagarajan, Vice-Chancellor, Madras University, and the Tamil Nadu Governor, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, are also seen. — S.R. Raghunathan

Chennai, Sept. 4

Universities need to be given functional autonomy to realise their full potential, said the President, Mr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, at the inauguration of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Madras University.

The University can be a contributor to development with the support of the State Government.

Knowledge society

With the country moving towards the knowledge era, the society too needs to evolve into a knowledge society.

It is essential for the Tamil Nadu Government to integrate the universities here under a single virtual university, he said.

Human values

Laying emphasis on human values as much as technological development, Mr Kalam said that the national challenge was the uplift of the 220 million people below the poverty line.

If the youth develop skills in selected areas, that will ensure that the economic growth is sustained for over a decade at 10 per cent against the present eight per cent.

Agriculture and food, healthcare and education, infrastructure, information and communication technology and self-reliance in critical technologies are areas of focus, the President said.

Nano-sciences centre

The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, said that a centre for nano-sciences and nano-biomedical technology would be set up at Madras University.

The university has submitted a report, which is with the Human Resources Ministry.

Once this is approved, the Budget announcement of the granting Rs 100 crore for such facilities would be implemented, he said.

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