VP calls for holistic rural development to realise Viksit Bharat 2047
Chennai, Oct 30 (UNI) Calling for holistic rural development to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Vice President C.P.Radhakrishnan on Friday said the real strength of India lies in its villages and that rural development must remain a fundamental pillar of national development.
The objective should not necessarily be to transform every village into a town, but to ensure that rural citizens have access to quality infrastructure, essential public services, livelihood opportunities and a dignified standard of living comparable to those available in urban areas, he said while addressing the Golden Jubilee Celebrations and 39th Convocation of Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University) in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu after conferring gold medals on meritorious students Referring to India's development journey over the past 12 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he highlighted significant progress in rural housing, drinking water, electricity, roads, sanitation, agriculture and digital connectivity and said approximately 25 crore people moved out of multi-dimensional poverty between 2014 and 2023 and that various development and welfare initiatives had contributed to improving the quality of life of millions of people.
Emphasising the importance of connectivity, the Vice-President said villages must be linked to towns and cities through improved road and transport infrastructure so that opportunities in education, healthcare, markets and employment reach rural communities. Underlining the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission in creating greater awareness about cleanliness, Mr.Radhakrishnan referred to improvements in the cleanliness of public spaces and said cleanliness was not merely the responsibility of the government but a collective responsibility of every citizen. Stating that farmers' welfare was directly linked to the country's food security, he highlighted the importance of supporting the farming community. He referred to the PM-KISAN scheme, under which eligible farmer families receive financial assistance of Rs.6,000 annually in three instalments directly into their bank accounts.
The Vice-President observed that Artificial Intelligence, automation and digital technologies were rapidly transforming the world and changing the nature of employment, while exhorting the students to equip themselves with emerging technologies while developing creativity, problem-solving abilities and an entrepreneurial outlook. He encouraged them to become job creators rather than merely job seekers. Referring to the contemporary relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Swadeshi, he said that promoting domestic manufacturing, indigenous technologies, local industries and innovations by young Indians represented the modern expression of Swadeshi.
The Vice-President called upon the graduating students to use their education and skills not merely for personal advancement but also for the welfare of society. He urged them to make Gandhian values of simplicity, self-reliance, social responsibility and service the guiding principles of their lives. On the occasion, the Vice-President conferred Honorary Doctorates (Honoris Causa) on three distinguished personalities havathiru Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar, renowned spiritual leader and Tamil scholar; S.Nambi Narayanan, former senior aerospace scientist of ISRO; and Professor S. S. M. Sundaram, distinguished academician, in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields. He also inaugurated two new buildings, laid foundation stones for three projects, released the book "Inclusivity of India's Ageing Population" and unveiled the Golden Jubilee Commemorative Postage Stamp and Postal Cover, marking a significant milestone in the institution's journey.
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