Education true engine of transformation, path to developed India: VC JU

Jammu, Jul 30: Emphasising the pivotal role of education in shaping India’s future, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Umesh Rai Wednesday said that while infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and digital economy formed the structural foundations of a developed nation, the true engine of transformation remained education.

He stated this here while addressing the curtain raiser press conference regarding “Viksit Bharat Yuva connect” programme, being organised at the University from July 31 to August 3, 2025.

The Vice Chancellor referred to India’s historic contribution of 23 percent to the global economy before colonial disruption and said its (India’s) strength once stemmed from an education system deeply connected to societal needs.

“To reclaim that legacy, it is imperative for India to regain its global standing. If the path to a developed India begins anywhere, it begins in its schools, colleges and universities”, he added.

Prof Rai emphasised that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, as dreamt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was not just a policy directive but a national mission that must be driven through robust academic institutions. He called for a complete reorientation of academic priorities – from learning to problem-solving, and from job-seeking to job-creation – and proposed a powerful framework rooted in idea, incubation, innovation and start-up, underscoring the urgent need to integrate skilling, creativity and curiosity into curriculum design.

He also highlighted the upcoming Innovation Tower at the University, which would offer facilities for ideation, entrepreneurship and civil society collaboration.

Prof Rai called for value-based education with compulsory courses in emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and social ethics. “If we fail to create humane human beings, everything else we build will be meaningless,” he stated.

JU Vice Chancellor also drew attention to the deep link between substance abuse, crime and terrorism, emphasising that the University’s commitment to Nasha Mukt Bharat must go beyond token campaigns. “If we don’t eradicate drug addiction, our vision of a developed India will remain incomplete,” he warned and appealed for continuous engagement and not just symbolic marches.

He also acknowledged the visionary leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, under whose guidance infrastructure and agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir progressed rapidly. “The support extended by the LG and Chief Minister in enabling educational institutions to overcome systemic hurdles is instrumental in realising the goals of Viksit Bharat,” Prof Rai added.

He urged the students to register on the ‘MY Bharat’ portal, selecting their interests wisely to access the internships and valuable national engagement opportunities made available by the Government of India.

Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, described the programme as a vital step in translating the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 into grassroots action.

She said, “The four-day initiative – Viksit Bharat Yuva connect curated under the leadership of Prof Rai, seeks to inspire participation from students across schools, colleges and universities, with thousands already registered on the My Bharat Portal.”

Prof Rohmetra stated the Viksit Bharat Heritage Yatra on August 2 would take students to the historic Mubarak Mandi complex – a symbolic step towards reconnecting youth with their cultural identity.