Jhansi: Governor and chancellor Anandiben Patel on Thursday suggested that every university should provide skill training to at least 100 students, eventually increasing the number to 400, so that youths from the state may not be underpaid when they go to other places to work.Addressing Bundelkhand University’s 31st convocation, the Governor said a centre had been developed at Raj Bhavan at a cost of around Rs 28 lakh, where students of Classes 6, 7 and 8 are introduced to the Gaganyaan mission, space programmes and the activities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Referring to the 1,500 tinkering labs established in schools, she said these facilities were giving children opportunities to learn technology, innovation and hands-on experimentation.The ceremony saw 34,947 degrees and 79 medals conferred, with women accounting for nearly 80% of the medals, as Governor Anandiben Patel and other dignitaries urged graduates to combine knowledge with skills, innovation and social responsibility.Akanksha Rawat, an MSc Agriculture (Horticulture) student of Nehru College, Lalitpur, emerged as the top performer after securing 94.20% marks. She received both the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for the highest overall marks and the Chancellor’s Silver Medal for securing the highest marks.Patel said a degree should not merely be a passport to employment but a means to contribute to nation-building. She urged young graduates to develop skills alongside knowledge and imbibe a sense of compassion, service and social responsibility. She also stressed continuous learning, saying rapidly changing technology would require people to regularly update their knowledge and skills.She highlighted the strong performance of female students, noting that 63 of the 79 medals were won by women. She described the achievement as an important step towards women’s education and empowerment. She also urged universities to expand skill-training programmes, promote startups and entrepreneurship, encourage sports and physical training, and provide students with opportunities in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, animation, VFX and gaming.She also praised the university for uploading degrees on DigiLocker and for its achievements in NAAC, NIRF, UGC Category-I and SDG-related initiatives. She called for greater industry-oriented courses, an “Earn While Learn” approach and stronger linkages with the defence sector developing around Jhansi.While distributing kits to Anganwadi workers, the governor said that, under her guidance and with her blessings, 900 anganwadi kits had been provided in Jhansi, Lalitpur, Chitrakoot and Mahoba, taking the total number of Anganwadi kits distributed across the state to more than 75,000.Similarly, 1,200 HPV vaccine doses, with 300 doses allocated to each of the four districts, were made available.Patel also called for collective efforts to address social evils such as child marriage, dowry, social discrimination and superstition. Education, she said, should not be limited to securing employment but should also help build a sensitive and responsible society. She stressed the need to ensure equal access to education for all, particularly girls.Chief guest Prof Nageshwar Rao, chairperson of the NAAC executive committee, said universities should not remain centres limited to admissions, examinations and degree distribution but should function as “workshops” for nation-building. Higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay urged graduates to draw inspiration from Rani Lakshmibai’s courage, values and resolve. He reminded students that parents and teachers deserved their respect and called upon them to understand their responsibilities towards the nation. He also appealed to youth to stay away from drugs.Minister of State for higher education Rajni Tiwari said the fact that women won about 80% of the medals demonstrated that “daughters are second to none”. Citing Rani Lakshmibai, she said the queen’s greatest strength was her indomitable self-confidence and urged young people to contribute actively to nation-building.Referring to the growing number of medals among women in comparison to men, Tiwari said, “The way women’s empowerment is increasing, we may have to start talking about the empowerment of men in the near future.”
