40/2022-2023
Aizawl, the 6thMay 2020 : The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind graced the 16thConvocation of Mizoram University yesterday at the Convocation Hall of Mizoram University at Tanhril. The Governor of Mizoram, Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati and the Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga also accompanied the President of India at the Convocation.

Addressing the gathering of students and faculty members of the University the President expressed his admiration of the high literacy levels of the state and said that Mizoram is a truly modern state ready to take off for higher achievements. Remarking that Mizoram is blessed with natural resources in abundance, he said that such a region, which is rich in bio-diversity, offers vast opportunities for research and development. However, it is our responsibility to strike the right balance between development and sustainability, he added.

The President while stressing the need to preserve the environment with care in Mizoram and other North Eastern states said that that we must adopt practices which are beneficial not only to us but also to the nature. He praised the people of Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura for generating the least plastic waste as per a study by NITI Aayog. He said that this is a good example of responsible consumption and production. He also noted that despite busy traffic, the dutiful people of Aizawl refrain from honking. He said that this practice is worth appreciating and may be adopted by people in other cities too.

The President said that according to progress on Goal - 4 of UN Sustainable Development Goals which pertains to providing Quality Education, NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21 shows that Mizoram with a score of 60 performed better than the national average of 57. An interesting point that figured in the analysis was that the score for Goal - 4 ranked Aizwal as the top performer among all districts of the north-eastern states. He urged the people of Aizwal to handhold and encourage the people in the other districts of the state to improve their social indices and participate in the process of national development.

The President said that educational institutions are the incubators of the future. They not only provide training and education to students but mould them into good citizens. It is the unrelenting support of the teachers at the educational institutions and universities that plays the most prominent role in the lives of the students. He was happy to note that the faculty of Mizoram University is not only well qualified but also engaged in qualitative research work. He said that good researchers are often exceptional teachers too; their experimental learning is better imbibed by the students, he added. Such faculty also encourages the spirit of research and innovation, he further said.

The President said that the entrepreneurship development activities and establishment of "Technology Incubation Centers” in the Mizoram University extending support to the budding entrepreneurs to nurture their ideas with innovation and creativity is a step in the right direction. He appreciated those initiatives of the university to promote innovation and transform it into enterprise. He said that this is the key to bring about change in our society and economy.

Vice Chancellor of Mizoram University Prof. K.R.S. Sambasiva Rao delivered the welcome address on the occasion and highlighted the achievements of the University. A total of 7830 degrees were awarded with 545 candidates receiving their degrees in person and the rest 7285 receiving in absentia.