Alva asks universities to motivate students to work for economically weaker sections

For all round development of the society, Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva on Wednesday asked universities to motivate students to work for economically weaker sections for their upliftment.  She stressed on evolving systemic policies to motivate young professionals engineers, doctors, para-medics and teachers  to put in at least three to four years of service in remote, economically backward areas, including tribal areas.

Alva, at the 8th convocation of Malviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) where President Pranab Mukherjee awarded gold medals to meritorious students, said she has noticed professionals unwilling to serve in tribal regions because they are remote and lack other facilities, and said there was a need to address the situation.

"In a lot of services, including administrative or banking sector, officers serving in so called difficult areas earn extra hardship allowances. We need to do the same for remote, less developed and tribal regions.

"Perhaps the government could consider a 25 per cent special pay for those who opt to work in Tribal Sub Plan areas," she said.  "I would urge the Universities to help   and indeed, work with Governments   in hastening development by motivating their students to work with the economically weaker sections," Alva said.  She laid emphasis over focusing on hardware industry.

"Indian manufacturing sector in certain hardware industries   particularly electronics and, more specifically, the medium-to-low end electronic product segment  seems to be losing out to international competition.  "Our engineers need to remember the oft-repeated dictum of economics and management: consumer is king," she commented.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also asked the students to make their contribution in national growth and bring some new innovative models for the development in sectors like health, education, rural development and others. K K Agrawal, Chairman of the Board of Governors - MNIT, said the institute encourages and faculties spend time to develop creativity, innovative capabilities and flexibilities in students.

Innovative companies allow employees to spend 15-20 per cent of their time to do activities which are not directly in the domain of the salary pack, Agrawal said.