NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, SEPT 11
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday stressed on the need to impart value-based education for all-round development of children.
The Vice President at the launch of ‘Heartfulness All India Essay Writing Event’ organized by Shri Ram Chandra Mission in partnership with the United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan. @UNinIndia pic.twitter.com/Az88ttUr6L
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) September 11, 2020
He also called for moving beyond academics and making value-based teaching and learning an integral part of the education system.
Naidu was speaking at the online launch of the ”Heartfulness All India Essay Writing Competition”. The event is held every year to commemorate the United Nations’ International Day of the Youth between July and November. It was 2020’ jointly organised by the Heartfulness Education Trust, Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan (UNIC),
The vice-president appreciated the National Education Policy-2020 for focusing on value-based education and said the emphasis on values has been an “integral part of all our teachings since ancient times”.
Value-based education assumes greater importance in the present day and fast-paced IT-driven world where access to an explosion of information, technologies, tools, and news can be very overwhelming, and confusing, and misdirecting too at times, Naidu said.
Expressing the need to rebuild foundations based on universal values, he called for returning to the roots and draw upon the wisdom of India”s traditional methods of teaching, an official statement said.
Naidu also called upon governments, parents, teachers, institutions and voluntary organisations to take the lead in imparting critical life lessons to students.
He expressed confidence that if the country moves in this direction, India will lead the resurgence of value-based education for the world to follow.
Describing education as the key to fully leverage demographic dividend, the vice president asked universities to improve standards to make India a leading hub of knowledge and innovation.
Calling for greater thrust on research and collaboration between the academia and the industry, Naidu felt a need for greater investment in research by both public sector and private sector institutions.
Drawing attention to the challenging situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he observed that nations have shown strong resolve and are working together in emerging out of the challenge.
Observing that adversity is the time when one”s character is tested, Naidu said that no problem is insurmountable when “we work together with strong values”.
Naidu also said that the pandemic has caused some stress in people’s minds and the best way to release this is to live together with one”s family and practice meditation, the statement said.
Describing “share and care” as the core of Indian philosophy, the vice president called for inculcating values of compassion, empathy, respect for elders, and religious tolerance.
He also appealed to provide help to the needy and marginalised people in times like the current pandemic.
Naidu launches 28th edition of Heartfulness essay contest
This unique annual Essay competition tries to inculcate value-based thinking, shaping the minds and hearts of millions of youth for the last 28 years.
Commenting on the occasion, Kamlesh Patel (Daaji), Guide of Heartfulness said, “The youth forms the fabric of the nation and they need to be delicately treated. It is very critical that they are inspired from within to find the answers, to know what is right, and pursue that path. In this fast-paced world, the importance of reflection, discussion, and contemplation is lost, this has an impact on the development of the intellect and value system amongst the youth. Through the essay event, we are trying to preserve and encourage the wisdom of the traditional learning methods so that fabric remains strong and intact.”
The ‘Heartfulness Essay Event 2020’ – Details of Participation
Participants can log on to www.younghearts.org for guidelines of participation and for submission of entries. The last date to submit entries is October 10, 2020. There is no charge associated with the event. Entries are invited in English and Hindi at National Level and 9 regional languages including Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu, at the state level – under the following categories:
Category I
Classes 9 to 12. Topic: Thought pollution – the root cause of all ills. with a word limit – [500 words]
Category II
UG&PG (Age Limit Less than 28 years and unemployed): Topic: Poverty is not just a lack of money with a word limit – [750 words]
Prizes
Top 10 essays at the national level (English & Hindi) and state level (English, Hindi, and regional languages) will be given prizes which include mementoes for top three winners at National and State levels and Certificates jointly signed by the Director, UNIC and President, SRCM. Certificates of merit for top 5 entries at the institutional level and participation certificates for all will be given.
