Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh governor and chancellor Anandiben Patel on Thursday said that girls are consistently outperforming boys in academics despite having the same educational opportunities, attributing their success to greater discipline, mental resilience and determination.Addressing the 45th convocation of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University (DDUGU), she also expressed concern over rising substance abuse among youth and urged students to contribute towards building a “Developed India”.She also raised objections to food being delivered from outside to boys’ hostels, warning that such deliveries could pose security and health risks.Patel awarded medals to 25 toppers, while chief guest and Padma Bhushan awardee V K Saraswat conferred medals on other meritorious students. A total of 85 students were honoured for their academic achievements.Patel said that while girls may appear physically less strong, they have demonstrated remarkable mental resilience, discipline and determination, enabling them to excel in education, sports, science and other fields. She pointed to the outstanding performance of Indian women on national and international platforms as evidence of their growing achievements.Patel also observed that students from rural areas have been performing better than their urban counterparts at several recent university convocations despite having comparatively fewer resources.Expressing concern over substance abuse among youth, the Governor urged students to stay away from drugs and take a pledge to contribute to a “Developed India.”Addressing the gathering, V K Saraswat said that a university degree was not merely a certificate of academic achievement but also a responsibility towards society and the nation.Highlighting the university’s progress, Patel praised its adoption of the National Education Policy 2020, transparent admission process, digital library, artificial intelligence laboratories and employment-oriented academic programmes.
