DIMAPUR, March 28 � Aiming to reach out to the often neglected areas of the country and build synergies between the universities and industry, renowned economists and educationists from different universities have come together on one platform in response to the call for an academia-industry interaction and for acceleration of economic development in the NE.
Under the theme �Growth strategies for the NE�, the 5th University-Industry Council symposium hosted by Nagaland University in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Association of India Universities (AII) was held at NU School of Engineering & Technology, Dimapur.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof YS Rajan of Dr Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor, Indian Space Research Organisation said it was time to look beyond the �romantic notion� of the North East and focus on economic growth of the region and catch up on the tertiary sector. He suggested that the region would do well in BPOs, animation industry, hospitality industry, educational hubs and bio-tech and biodiversity.
Former Governor of Goa and Maharashtra, Dr SC Jamir, speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session, emphasised a peaceful and congenial academic environment to lay a strong academic foundation and lamented that this basic requirement is lacking in the entire North East. Jamir said the very mention of the word North East today conjures up disturbing images of violence, bloodshed, backwardness, disorder and social disarray.
Instead of protecting, preserving and promoting the genuine aspirations of all the tribal communities in the region in a unified and concerted manner, we are endlessly and untiringly fighting and pillaging our lands and people purportedly in the name of our petty and distorted ideologies, he observed.
Jamir said that the 21st century would mark the zenith of the Asian civilisation wherein the might and mettle of Asian super powers like India and China would shape the destiny of the whole world. By 2050, India would be the unfettered global superpower, where its writ would run large. He wondered, �Can the people of the North East afford to miss this wondrous opportunity to be a part and parcel of this astonishing march towards greater glory and grandeur?�
Sharing his experience as Governor of Maharashtra and Chancellor of 19 Universities there, Jamir said that Vice Chancellors should be appointed by an expert committee consisting of prominent academicians and politicians should not be allowed to interfere. He disclosed that he had proposed the formation of such a committee, which was accepted by the Maharashtra Government.
