Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that degree holders have to decide for themselves whether they want to become a job creator or a job provider. He appealed to the young scientists to maintain the high standards set by the university and said that they were recognized in the country and the world as a scientist who came out of this university. The Governor was speaking while presiding over the 11th convocation of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University Nauni in Solan district today. He conferred 665 degrees, 11 gold medals and 261 merit certificates in the convocation. Congratulating the gold medal winners and the degree holders, he said that the convocation was such a memorable moment, which reminds us of the future progress and special contribution of the University. He urged them to take their research work to the farming community and said that until the research does not reach the farmers practically, it has no use.
He said that the convocation ceremony is like a formal celebration, where not only the students have been felicitated but the university was also indebted to them. He said that this achievement was the result of hard work of the students. He congratulated the teachers, non-teachers and parents of the students for their contribution. He said that their degrees were worthwhile only when the benefits of research reach the fields. “The process of learning in life does not end, but from today is the beginning of new education and achieving new goals”, said Arlekar. He exhorted the students to develop the ability to lead the society and move ahead by examining the opportunity. He directed the university administration to develop a counselling center in the direction of entrepreneurship. The Governor said that there was a need to reduce the dependence of farmers on chemical pesticides as the cost of these pesticides was increasing every year.
He urged that instead of chemical pesticides, efforts should be made to save fruits, vegetables etc. from natural resources from pests and various diseases. He said that it should be our objective to produce safe food items. He added that the State Government has taken steps towards becoming a natural farming State and he was confident that they would be able to achieve this goal. Arlekar said that it was a matter of satisfaction that in the Atal Innovation Ranking released by the Union Ministry of Education, the University has been placed in the top Band ‘A’ (6 to 25 rank) of all government universities in the country. It was also ranked 22nd in the ranking of Agricultural Universities of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, he added. He said that in the India Today MDRA Best University Rankings 2020 also, the University has been ranked 25th among government universities across the country. He expressed confidence that the University would continue to strive to improve its performance in the ranking parameters.
He expressed happiness that the number of girl students was increasing continuously and this was a good sign as the role of women in agriculture-horticulture and forestry was very important. While expressing contentment over the introduction of Academic Management System by the University, he said that the University would move fast on the digital front. He also expressed happiness that the university has started the process of implementing remote log software so that all the e-literature would be available to students and scientists of the university at home. He urged the students to take advantage of this facility and work on writing research papers with a high impact factor. He congratulated the University for preparing a vision document for the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020. He stressed the need to pay more attention to e-education and technical discussions. The Governor released ‘Road Map and Action Plan for execution of National Education Policy 2020’. The blessing message of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also displayed on the occasion.
Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry honoured and welcomed the Governor and detailed various achievements and other activities of the University. He said that the University has focussed more on research activities and from the year 2020 to till date 83 research projects of Rs 48.74 crore have been sent to various agencies for financial aid out of which 16 have been approved of worth Rs 7.54 crore. He said that the state government had changed grants of Rs. 110 crore under horticulture sector and Rs 57.20 lakh under forest sector during the financial year 2021-22. Registrar of the University Prashant Sarkek proposed vote of thanks. H.K. Chaudhary, Vice-chancellor, Agriculture University, Palampur, Virender Kashyap, former MP, Members of the University Senate, Board of Management and Academic Council, statutory officers of the University, staff, student community, graduate and post-graduate degree holders and their parents were also present on the occasion.
Gold medals were given to 11 students and merit certificates to 261 at the convocation. In addition, 665 students have obtained B.Sc. Horticulture and B.Sc. Forestry, B.Tech Biotechnology, MBA/ABM, M.Sc. Horticulture and B.Sc. Forestry and Ph.D. degrees, which include 283 boys and 382 girls. Out of 11 gold medals, 7 gold medals were won by the girls. Apart from India, degrees were also conferred on 21 foreign students. Earlier, the Governor inaugurated a 640 KW roof top solar plant in the University campus. He also laid the foundation stone of the main gate to be designed in a hilly structure, Yoga center and open air theatre. He also inaugurated an e-cart. The governor also inaugurated the Exhibition put up by various departments of the university.
