Himachal governor for intense research in agriculture, environment

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), March 15 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Governor Kalyan Singh on Sunday stressed upon the need for intensive research to develop new technologies in agriculture, power, environment and information technology to ensure development.

Addressing the students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kamand village near here, he said the growth in science and technology could only provide solutions to the existing problems and accelerate the pace of development.

President Pranab Mukherjee was to address the second annual convocation of the IIT but he could not as his helicopter failed to land here due to inclement weather.

Lauding the contribution of IITs in the country, which are not only imparting quality education but are also doing commendable job in technological research, the governor hoped that students of IIT-Mandi would also bring laurels to the state and the nation with their professional expertise.

"Whatever education you have received would depend upon how to use that to meet the future challenges." He exhorted the students to have high aim in life.

He also stressed for preserving the culture and custom. "If we fail to follow our traditions, we don't think that we can be successful in our endeavours too."

Kalyan Singh said the students should not only strive for achieving excellence in their fields but also sincerely work for the benefit of humanity.

He said they owed their success to their parents and teachers, who played a vital role in moulding them as successful professionals.

Chairman of the board of governors of IIT M. Natarajan read President Mukherjee's speech in which he exhorted that institutions of higher learning must adopt five villages each based on the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the views of the president would certainly help to meet day-to-day challenges of life through innovations in the field of science and technology.

He said the capacity to create, organise and apply knowledge was the most important trait of every successful person today in every profession.

"We have to adopt the latest techniques in the fast changing trend of technological revolution and adopt the same in our day-to-day working."

"In the present scenario, knowledge itself is expanding at ever greater speed and is a never ending process," he said.

"I am happy to learn that since its inception, this is the first of the new IITs to bag international scientific projects in a span of just five years and the institution is fast expanding," he said.

IIT-Mandi has recently expanded its curriculum to master's programmes in chemistry and energy materials.

"I am sure that these programmes will cause rapid skill and knowledge building among the youth of Himachal Pradesh," the chief minister said.

"I want to say here that green energy is a need and an opportunity for our state. I wish IIT to focus on hydro, geothermal and solar energy which are especially relevant in our state," he said.

A total of 127 students were given degrees -- besides, six students were bestowed with gold and silver.

The President of India gold medal and the institute silver was awarded to Shoubhik Debnath by the chief minister. Krishna Karnani and Deepak Sharma were given silver in computer science and engineering, respectively.

Rani Gonsalves medal for outstanding female B.Tech student was given to Damini Singal.