BeyondHeadlines News Desk
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) today made a strong pitch for setting up a Medical College-cum-Hospital at its Annual Convocation attended by Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Governor of Manipur & JMI Chancellor, Dr. Najma Heptulla and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar.
More than 10000 students including 350 gold medalists who passed in the year 2017 and 2018 were awarded Degrees/Diplomas. Out of 350 gold medalists, 183 are girls.
Addressing the Convocation, the President congratulated all those who receive Degrees/Diplomas especially to the girl gold medalists who outnumbered boys and lauded JMI’s efforts towards girls’ education with Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, both women, being at the helm of the affairs.
The President, who is also the Visitor of the university, congratulated JMI for entering into the centenary year and said that the university’s foundation is linked to the country’s freedom struggle. He quoted a line from JMI’s tarana (anthem) ‘उठे थे सुनके जो आवाज़े–रहबराने–वतन’ and said it described the patriotism of its founders.
JMI is the symbol of the country’s composite culture which is not only to be preserved but also to be strengthened, said the President who was accompanied by the First Lady Smt Savita Kovind, adding it is the duty of the students to work relentlessly towards this goal.
Talking about the proposed new education policy of the government, the President said it is to establish India as a ‘knowledge super power’ as the whole world recognizes the immense talent of the students of the country.
Asking all educational institutions in the country to contribute proper use of students’ talents, he said, special contributions are expected from prestigious institutions like JMI.
Emphasizing the need for University’s Social Responsibility (USR) on the line of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to connect every section of the society, he noted that the JMI has adopted five villages under the ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ and asked the university to adopt more villages.
He said that students should go to those villages and try to understand their issues while making villagers aware of schemes like cleanliness of the village, literacy, vaccination of all children and nutrition.
The students, he said, should also provide villagers information about Central and State Government Schemes.
Addressing the Convocation, both JMI Chancellor, Dr. Najma Heptulla and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar forcefully pleaded the government for help in setting up a Medical College-cum-Hospital in the university.
Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in his address assured all possible help to JMI in fulfilling its requirements.
The Hon’ble Minister praised JMI’s continuous endeavour to improve its national and international rankings and also lauded its efforts to run job-oriented courses with the help of industries.
Recalling JMI contribution to the freedom struggle, he said that it was a matter of pride that the institution has entered into 100 years of its existence today.
He said that the university has established its own identity by implementing Government policies and discharging its social responsibilities.
Talking about the proposed new education policy of his Ministry, he said that this will lay the formation stone of new India and will provide technical, scientific and job-oriented education to girls, minorities and under-privileged sections of the society.
Shri Pokhriyal also said that the new policy would help in fulfilling Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s resolve to raise India’s economy to five trillion dollars by 2024.
Pressing for a Medical College-cum-Hospital, Dr. Heptulla strongly urge both Hon’ble President and Union Minister for HRD to help the university in acquiring land for the purpose.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar, said that the university is planning to put JMI on the national map in respect of Environmental Studies and Climate Action.
New departments relating to Environment Sciences, Design and Innovation, Hospital Management and Hospice Studies are in the offing, she said.
The university has put in place an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cell to encourage students and faculty to come together to work on a technological project that leads to creation of innovative user-friendly products with the help of the industry.
The Convocation proceeding was conducted by the Registrar, Mr. A.P. Siddiqui (IPS) attended, among others, by a large number of students, faculty members, officials, dignitaries, ambassadors and former vice-chancellors.
The Convocation opened and ended with National Anthem.
