IITs should pay attention to problems faced by farmers, rural India: Venkaiah Naidu

IITs should start major research programmes to boost rural ecomy through development of sustainable techlogies, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday. research at IITs and or higher education institutes, he said, must be relevant to society and focus on finding solutions to various problems faced by mankind from climate change to health issues.

"Indian institutions will be counted among world's best only when y start impacting societies around m by developing optimal and sustainable solutions to problems faced by nation. Research should focus on making lives of people comfortable, quicken progress and ensure a more equitable world order," Naidu said in his address at diamond jubilee celebrations of IIT Delhi.

Calling upon IITs to pay attention to problems faced by farmers and rural India, vice president asked m to work t only for enhancing agri-production, but also specially focus on production of nutritious and protein-rich food.

"With more than 50 pc of our population still dependent on agriculture, it is important for IITs to start major research programmes to boost rural ecomy through development of sustainable techlogies," he said.

"Higher education institutions should t work in silos and form a symbiotic relationship with industry to develop cutting-edge techlogy and industry experts in various areas should act as mentors in guiding researchers. This type of collaboration will help in fast-tracking projects and produce quicker results," he added.

Stressing on need for greater investment in Research and Development projects which focus on finding solutions to societal problems, Naidu urged private sector to collaborate with academia in identifying such projects and fund m liberally.

"re should be greater investment in R and D projects which focus on finding solutions to societal problems. I call upon private sector, including industry bodies like CII and Assocham, to collaborate with academia in identifying such projects and fund m liberally," he said.

Asserting that New Education Policy seeks to promote India as a global study destination, Naidu pointed out that only eight Indian institutions figured in top 500 globally.

"This situation has to change and re has to be a concerted and collective action from all stakeholders governments, universities, educationists and private sector to bring about a radical improvement in standards and quality of education of our institutes of higher learning," he said.

"I am happy to te that New Education Policy seeks to promote India as a global study destination providing premium education at affordable costs, reby helping to restore its role as a Vishwa Guru," he added.

Observing that re is a huge potential for India to become a world leader in various techlogical domains given demographic advant and presence of highly talented youth, vice president said, " need of hour is to impart quality education".