NE NEWS SERVICE
PUDUCHERRY, DEC 24
President Ram Nath Kovind lauded the girls who have outnumbered the boys in bagging maximum number of gold medals in the 27-th convocation of the Pondicherry University here on Monday.
In his convocation address president Kovind said that he had the privilege to present the gold medals to 10 students and noticed that nine of them were girls. He added that this reflects the future of the country and also the leadership qualities of the daughters. He also extended his best wishes to the graduating students.
President Kovind who is also the Visitor of the University under the provisions of the Act through which the university was established in 1985 also presented the gold medals to a select number of students who were slated to receive the medals at the ceremony.
From a total of 189 students who were conferred with gold medals in the different disciplines, 137 were female students.
He also pointed out that be it a university or an entity we are all finally part of the society and will have a certain responsibility towards it. He further stated that the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility is to encourage firms to spend a part of their profits for society and this should also be extended to the universities. He added that he has quite often spoken of the need to extend the concept of CSR to the universities and call it University Social Responsibility.
While highlighting his passion for the concept of University Social Responsibility he also applauded Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi who is also the Chief Rector of the University has launched the University Social Responsibility last July.
Students’ council boycotts convocation
In spite of the members of the Students’ Council of Pondicherry University boycotted the convocation, the ceremony held as per schedule. Ahead of president’s visit, entire road which leads to Pondicherry University was free from haphazard parking of vehicles on the road side.
Entire stretches of the main roads were barricaded to prevent people to cross the roads when the VIP convoy passing through. The UT police have made elaborate security arrangements.
The convocation was also attended by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi along with Chief Minister V. Narayanaswamy.
The other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Revenue Minister M O H F Shah Jahan, Education Minister R Kamalakannan, and Members of Parliament from Puducherry- V Vaithilingam and N Gokulakrishnan.
