PM Modi urges IIT-B to reach out to untapped talent

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday suggested the IIT-B, which is celebrating its diamond jubilee, to launch an outreach programme for students around Mumbai, which has around 800 colleges with 9.5 lakh students.

Asserting that there are many students, who despite having talent are not able to join eminent institutions such as the IITs, Mr Modi advised students to not to get disheartened if their hard work does not result in success, and asked them to instead focus on achieving their goals. “It would be nice if IIT-Bombay (celebrating its diamond jubilee) launches an outreach programme for schools in the vicinity. Invite small children to the campus and encourage them to undertake scientific experiments,” he said.

“You are fortunate to have lived in a campus like this, in a city like Mumbai. You have a lake on one side, and the hills too. Occasionally, you share your campus with crocodiles and leopards. It is still August, but I am sure the mood is indigo today! I am sure the last four years were a wonderful learning experience for you all,” the PM said. Mood Indigo is IIT-B’s annual college cultural festival which is generally organised in December, Mr Modi further said.

The Prime Minister also appealed to youngsters to innovate in India to combat climate change, ensure greater agriculture productivity and conversation of water.

Maharashtra governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union human resources development minister Prakash Javadekar were present at the event.

After his 32-minute address, Mr Modi inaugurated the buildings of the Energy Science and Engineering as well as Environmental Science and Engineering departments on the IIT-B campus. He also visited the technological exhibition developed by IIT-B and praised the innovative instruments and research undertaken by the students.

A total of 2,621 students on Saturday were conferred with Bachelors degrees while 380 students were awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Twenty-nine students, who did their research under the Doctor of Philosophy research program jointly undertaken by the IIT-B and Monash University, received their degrees at the hands of Monash University President Margaret Gardner.

Rs 1,000 crore fund announced for institute’s infrastructure dvpt
Addressing the 56th annual convocation of IIT-Bombay on Saturday, Mr Modi announced a financial aid of Rs 1,000 crore for the institute, saying that six decades of “constant trying” had made it an institute of eminence.

Heaping praise on IIT-B, Mr Modi said, “It is due to last six decades of constant trying that IIT-B has made its place as one of the country’s eminent institutes. You will be receiving a financial aid of Rs 1,000 crore which will help in the development of infrastructure.”

The Prime Minister said several students who have graduated from the institute are actively participating in the country’s development. Mr Modi said that in the last four years, seven IITs, seven IIMs (Indian Inst-itute of Management), two IISER (Indian Insti-tutes of Science Educa-tion and Research) and 11 IIITs (Indian Institute of Information Technology) have been approved.

“In order to improve infrastructure, RISE (Revitalisation of Infrast-ructure and Systems in Education) programme has been initiated. In accordance with this programme, a target of accumulating Rs 1 lakh crore has been set. New institutes, new infrastructure is necessary, but more important is the skilled power generated from these. The government is also focusing on this,” he said.

Mr Modi further said that the IIT graduates are at the forefront of some of the best start-ups in India. “These are start-ups that are also at the forefront of solving so many national problems. To those working in the start-up movement or are planning to start one after college, please do remember that the biggest corporations of today were start-ups of yesterday. They were the result of idealism combined with hard-work and diligence. Keep at it, do not give up, and you will succeed,” he said.