NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday said India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 must begin with empowered villages, stressing that holistic rural development should remain a fundamental pillar of national progress.
Addressing the Golden Jubilee celebrations and 39th convocation of Gandhigram Rural Institute in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, the Vice-President said the real strength of India lay in its villages and that rural citizens must 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 the objective should not necessarily be to transform every village into a town but to ensure that people living in rural areas enjoy facilities and opportunities similar to those available in urban centres.
Emphasising the importance of connectivity, Radhakrishnan said villages must be linked with towns and cities through improved road and transport infrastructure so that rural communities could access better education, healthcare, markets and employment opportunities.
Recalling the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, he said the history of Gandhigram was closely linked to Gandhian philosophy. The institution was established by Dr G. Ramachandran and Dr T. S. Soundaram Ramachandran, inspired by Gandhi’s ideals of rural education, self-reliance and social transformation.
He said Gandhian principles of truth and non-violence had challenged the might of the British Empire and continued to offer guidance for society and the nation.
Referring to India’s development journey over the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Vice-President highlighted progress in rural housing, drinking water, electricity, roads, sanitation, agriculture and digital connectivity.
He said approximately 25 crore people had moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2014 and 2023, attributing improvements in living standards to various development and welfare initiatives.
Radhakrishnan also highlighted the importance of cleanliness, referring to the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission. He said cleanliness was not merely the responsibility of the government but a collective responsibility of every citizen.
Emphasising the link between farmers’ welfare and national food security, 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.
Addressing graduating students, the Vice-President said artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies were rapidly transforming the world and changing the nature of employment.
He urged 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 Gandhi’s philosophy of Swadeshi, he said promoting domestic manufacturing, indigenous technologies, local industries and innovations by young Indians represented its modern expression.
He called upon graduates to use their education and skills for the welfare of society and make simplicity, self-reliance, social responsibility and service the guiding principles of their lives.
He also urged students to stay away from drugs and substance abuse and become ambassadors of a drug-free society by creating awareness among their friends, families and communities.
Congratulating Gandhigram Rural Institute on completing 50 years as a deemed-to-be university, Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that it would continue to emerge as a leading centre for sustainable rural development, inclusive growth and innovative research.
On the occasion, he conferred gold medals on meritorious students and honorary doctorates on three personalities for their contributions in their respective fields: spiritual leader and Tamil scholar Thavathiru Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar, former senior ISRO aerospace scientist S. Nambi Narayanan and academician S. S. M. Sundaram.
The Vice-President also inaugurated the Examination and Seminar Halls and Pushpkunj Heritage Building. He digitally laid the foundation stones for a 22 kV Power House and Control Room, an academic building for the School of Education and an academic building complex comprising 30 classrooms.
He also released the book Inclusivity of India’s Ageing Population and unveiled a Golden Jubilee commemorative postage stamp and postal cover.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chancellor K. M. Annamalai, Vice-Chancellor N. Panchanatham, Registrar K. Marimuthu, faculty members, students and other dignitaries attended the function.
