Bhubaneswar: Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called on students of KIIT and KISS to make a difference.
“Don’t be afraid to use your voice, stand up for what you believe in and make a difference,” he said on Friday, advising students to support each other, lift each other and celebrate each other’s success.
Calling the vibrant and energetic students of KISS the future of India and Nari Shakti of tomorrow, Dr Mishra commended India’s progress in women’s participation across various fields, highlighting Modi’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047, through women-led development.
He said female scientists, athletes and Armed forces personnel are making significant contributions to society. “More and more girls are getting enrolled in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics) courses and doing exceptionally well,” he said.
He expressed delight that KISS is working towards preserving, promoting and protecting tribal culture and values. “It is through diversity that we gain different perspectives and insights, enriching the learning experience for all.”
Giving details about Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Dr Mishra said it has a total budget of Rs 50,000 crore for five years out of which a major share is expected to come from non-government sources.
“ANRF will seed, grow, and promote R&D and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, and research institutions by forging collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions,” Mishra informed.
He threw light on the Union Budget which has provisions for setting up a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore to help tech-savvy youth scale up research and innovation in sunrise domains. He said that Kalinga Institutes will have a significant role when the financial assistance is combined with the Government’s commitment to pay utmost attention to making the eastern region a powerful driver of India’s growth story.
On Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and big data analytics, the Principal Secretary emphasised the need to keep pace and stay ahead of the curve. He said theoretical knowledge alone is not sufficient and stressed the need for practical skills aligned with market requirements to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Mishra urged students to pursue not only academic excellence but also focus on holistic development and commended KIIT for encouraging sports in students.
Mishra spoke about Yoga and encouraged students to explore innovative solutions to societal challenges.
He said there are endless opportunities for bright, young, and enterprising minds in entrepreneurship. “By promoting a favourable ecosystem for ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbharta, the Government is also actively playing its part,” he added.
