New Delhi, Sep 16 (UNI) Late BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was a great proponent of 'three Cs - Culture, Commerce and Connectivity' in strengthening the ties between India and ASEAN member nations, Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said here on Monday.
Speaking at a function for the launch of 1000 Integrated PhD Fellowships for ASEAN students at IITs here, Mr Pokhriyal said two years back when he had discussed about India's relations with ASEAN states, Late Swaraj (then External Affairs Minister) had counseled him to do deeper studies on these aspects Culture, Commerce and Connectivity vis-a-vis India's growing influence in that region.
"These three aspects are soul (atma) for India and its adjoining neighbours......Sushma Didi had told me," recalled Mr Pokhriyal at the function organised by Ministry of External Affairs and was attended by envoys of ASEAN nations and Sushma Swaraj's successor Dr S Jaishankar.
The Minister said his ministry will undertake a number of steps to take Indian education to loftier height vis-a-vis globalisation in education.
The much ambitious and a game changer in cultural and educational relationship between India and ASEAN countries - a special PhD Scholarship in IITs for 1,000 students from these countries was launched here.
The Rs 300 crore initiative was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 25, 2018 in Delhi on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary commemorative ASEAN-India Summit.
The fellowship programme at a total budget outlay of Rs 300 crore (approximately USD 45 million) is the single-largest capacity development initiative of India in its partnership with ASEAN.
UNI DEVN SHK1922