Universities must tackle poverty and malnutrition beyond academics: Governor
Noida: Governor Anandiben Patel urged vice-chancellors to look beyond traditional academic roles and focus on addressing social issues like poverty, malnutrition, and primary education, emphasising that universities should be catalysts for comprehensive social development.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Speaking at the valedictory session of the 99th National Conference of Vice-Chancellors at Amity University on Tuesday, Patel stressed that while many global universities excelled in their domains, they must also tackle malnutrition for national development.
"Imparting education shouldn't be the only responsibility of higher education institutions. They must generate ideas ensuring social development, including access to clean drinking water and proper health and sanitation facilities," the governor said.
She emphasised the importance of skill development and training, even for VCs, advocating for equal opportunities for women and a mission toward zero poverty.
"University spaces should be utilised for youth and women's development," she said, seeking to know how many govt and university officials were familiar with essential schemes that could benefit the public. She called for universities to take initiatives in eradicating poverty, generating employment, making policies, and social surveys.
The governor stressed that international university partnerships should transcend paperwork, fostering meaningful knowledge exchange. "Our vision is to make India a developed nation and a 'vishwa guru'. We must take pride in India's rich heritage and make children aware of ancient Indian inventions and discoveries," she added.
Talking about inclusivity, Patel highlighted the need for universities to support the transgender community through employment opportunities and education.
The two-day conference concluded with the release of a coffee table book and a special issue of university news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
20 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Andrew Cuomo concedes New York City Democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded New York City's Democratic Mayoral Primary to Zohran Mamdani as the 33-year old Indian-American member of the State Assembly had a significant lead in the race Tuesday (June 24, 2025) night. Mr. Cuomo's concession came as the race's outcome will be decided by a ranked choice count after neither Democrat got a clear majority in the vote. Mr. Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist member of the State Assembly, started to pull ahead with more than an estimated 80% of ballots counted. Mr. Cuomo, in a speech to supporters, said Mr. Mamdani 'won' and that 'we are going to take a look and make some decisions'. 'Tonight is his night,' Mr. Cuomo said. Mr. Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian-American Mayor if elected. Mr. Cuomo is trying to make a comeback from a sexual harassment scandal. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams skipped the primary. He's running as an independent. The race's ultimate outcome could say something about what kind of leader Democrats are looking for during President Donald Trump's second term. The vote takes place about four years after Mr. Cuomo, 67, resigned as governor following a sexual harassment scandal. Yet he has been the favourite throughout the race, with his deep experience, name recognition, strong political connections and juggernaut fundraising apparatus. The party's progressive wing, meanwhile, had coalesced behind Mr. Mamdani. A relatively unknown State Legislator when the contest began, Mr. Mamdani gained momentum by running a sharp campaign laser-focused on the city's high cost of living and secured endorsements from two of the country's foremost progressives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mr. Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Mr. Trump's Justice Department. Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, will be on the ballot in the fall's general election. There is also a possibility that Mr. Cuomo runs on the November ballot as an independent candidate if he loses the primary. The mayoral primary's two leading candidates — one a fresh-faced progressive and the other an older moderate — could be stand-ins for the larger Democratic Party's ideological divide, though Mr. Cuomo's scandal-scarred past adds a unique tinge to the narrative. The rest of the pack has struggled to gain recognition in a race where nearly every candidate has cast themselves as the person best positioned to challenge Mr. Trump's agenda. Comptroller Brad Lander, a liberal city government stalwart, made a splash last week when he was arrested after linking arms with a man federal agents were trying to detain at an immigration court in Manhattan. It was unclear if that episode was enough to jump-start a campaign that had been failing to pick up speed behind Lander. Among the other candidates are City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer. Mr. Mamdani's energetic run has been hard not to notice. His army of young canvassers relentlessly knocked on doors throughout the city seeking support. Posters of his grinning mug were up on shop windows. You couldn't get on social media without seeing one of his well-produced videos pitching his vision — free buses, free child care, new apartments, a higher minimum wage and more, paid for by new taxes on rich people. That youthful energy was apparent Tuesday evening, as both cautiously optimistic canvassers and ecstatic supporters lined the streets of Central Brooklyn, creating a party-like atmosphere that spread from poll sites into the surrounding neighbourhoods. Outside his family's Caribbean apothecary, Amani Kojo, a 23-year-old first-time voter, passed out iced tea to Mr. Mamdani canvassers, encouraging them to stay hydrated. 'It's 100 degrees outside and it's a vibe. New York City feels alive again,' Mr. Kojo said, raising a pile of Mr. Mamdani pamphlets. 'It feels very electric seeing all the people around, the flyers, all the posts on my Instagram all day.' Mr. Cuomo and some other Democrats have cast Mamdani as unqualified. They say he doesn't have the management chops to wrangle the city's sprawling bureaucracy or handle crises. Critics have also taken aim at Mamdani's support for Palestinian human rights. In response, Mr. Mamdani has slammed Mr. Cuomo over his sexual harassment scandal and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In one heated debate exchange, Mr. Cuomo rattled off a long list of what he saw as Mamdani's managerial shortcomings, arguing that his opponent, who has been in theSstate Assembly since 2021, has never dealt with Congress or unions and never overseen an infrastructure project. He added that Mr. Mamdani couldn't be relied upon to go toe-to-toe with Mr. Trump. Mr. Mamdani had a counter ready. 'To Mr. Cuomo, I have never had to resign in disgrace,' he said. Mr. Cuomo resigned in 2021 after a report commissioned by the state attorney general concluded that he had sexually harassed at least 11 women. He has always maintained that he didn't intentionally harass the women, saying he had simply fallen behind what was considered appropriate workplace conduct. During the campaign, he has become more aggressive in defending himself, framing the situation as a political hit job orchestrated by his enemies. The fresh scandal at City Hall involving Mayor Eric Adams, though, gave Mr. Cuomo a path to end his exile.
Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Who are Zohran Mamdani's parents? All about father Mahmood Mamdani and mother Mira Nair
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a rising star in New York City politics, now holding a lead in the Democratic primary for mayor, however, ranked-choice voting is looming before we know who will take the reins at City Hall. Rising political star Zohran Mamdani, influenced by his activist parents, leads the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. Photographer: Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg(Bloomberg) On Tuesday, as he is leading the NYC Mayoral Election, Andrew Cuomo congratulated Zohran, saying, 'Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani's night, and he put together a great campaign.' 'He touched young people and he inspired them and moved them, and got them to come out and vote. And he really ran a highly impactful campaign. I called him. I congratulated him. I applaud him sincerely for his effort.' ALSO READ| Zohran Mamdani: Indian-origin NYC mayoral candidate ahead of Andrew Cuomo in new poll Who are Zohran Mamdani's parents? Zohran was born on 18 October 1991 in Kampala, Uganda, to Professor Mahmood Mamdani, an extremely respected political thinker, and Mira Nair, a renowned Indian-American filmmaker. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Uganda-born Indian scholar, whose works on colonialism, political violence and African history are represented in academia around the world. He has taught at a number of universities, such as Columbia University, and is presently the Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda. Zohran's mother, Mira Nair, is a name familiar to cinephiles worldwide. The Indian-American director is best known for films like Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, and Queen of Katwe. After living in Kampala and Cape Town, the Mamdani-Nair household moved to New York City when Zohran was seven years old. It was in NYC that he attended the Bank Street School and later the Bronx High School of Science before going on to study Africana Studies at Bowdoin College. ALSO READ| Zohran Mamdani takes lead in NYC democratic mayoral primary as Cuomo concedes, final result on July 1 Notably, Zohran got elected into the State Assembly in 2021 to represent part of Queens. The rapper turned politician secured endorsement from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, and many others, as he moved into the Mayoral Election.
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Hans India
Two veterans practise yoga in Pacific Ocean
Visakhapatnam: Contributing to 'YogAndhra-2025', two veterans from Andhra Pradesh, Col Kolsani Srinivas (Retd) and Capt C D N V Prasad, IN (Retd) performed yoga aboard their 34-foot sailboat 'Tystie' in the Pacific Ocean. The 63-year-old veterans are alumni of the National Defence Academy and Sainik School Korukonda and on a transoceanic voyage from New Zealand to India via Fiji. They observed Yoga Day during the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, ahead of the events in India, exemplifying the spirit of this year's theme, 'yoga for one earth, one health'. Their unique seaborne observance highlighted yoga's global resonance. Braving swells, shifting winds, and confining to restricted spaces, their effort showcases resilience and commitment towards wellness, even at sea and across oceans. Joining over 2 crore participants in Andhra Pradesh, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of AP N Chandrababu Naidu for the YogAndhra organised in Visakhapatnam, the gesture by the two sons of the soil adds an inspirational note. Their journey reaffirms that oceans are not barriers, but bridges, conveying the Indian Navy's message of maritime unity and friendship to the world. The two veterans had set out on a sail from Opua Bay, New Zealand bound for Savusavu, Fiji. Their boat is going to be changed to Indian registration and renamed as 'Visakha' to honour the port of Visakhapatnam upon its arrival in Visakhapatnam scheduled later during the year. The duo's adventure serves as an inspiration for others to follow suit.
