KATTANKULATHUR, 08.07.23
SRM Institute of Science and Technology is all set to get a 5G Laboratory and students could devise solutions for various problems affecting the world through their innovative ideas, Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, and Information and Technology, said on Saturday.
SRM creates opportunities for youth:
Delivering his address at the 19th Convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, the Minister said today’s youth were entering a world full of exciting opportunities. He said venture capitalists, the Central Government encouraging a Startup culture and ecosystem, and institutions like SRM were creating opportunities for young people.
Stating that 5G services were launched in India in October last year, the Minister said there was overwhelming growth in its application and use. India had overtaken several countries where 5G services were launched earlier. In USA, there were only 1 lakh 5G radiating ports, while the number was 2.75 lakh in India, making the country, the 2nd largest 5G ecosystem in the world.
Infrastructure will boost economy:
A good infrastructure in the country will create growth and boost the economy, Mr. Vaishnaw remarked and pointed out that in the telecom sector till about a decade ago, India was dependent on importing electronic products, and manufacture of the same in the country was negligible. Ten years back, nearly all cell phones used by Indians were imported.
The situation had changed completely, and 98 % of all phones used by people in the country were now made in India. He said that close to Chennai, there was a factory manufacturing iPhones, and apart from it, components made in the factory were also used in cell phones made in other countries.
Arrive at solutions for the whole world:
The world that young graduates of today are entering is in total contrast with the situation many decades back. The world today is exciting, abounding with exciting opportunities. First and foremost, the physical infrastructure – where there has been a drastic change and an increase in the number of huge projects like highways, rail network, bridges, sea ports, and new trains like Vande Bharat.
Today, digital technologies are affecting and making a big impact on practically the entire economy. Last month, there were 933 crore digital transactions; today, even a small vendor in a village was carrying out electronic payments. If Indian youth today could arrive at solutions for the whole world, it was possible because the Central Government had created a very defined structure of open access and public infrastructure document management.
Focus, be persistent:
Mr. Vaishnaw reminded students that beyond their life at the university, they needed to be focussed, possess clarity in thought, and be persistent to succeed and to be distinguished and different from the rest.
In his address, Dr. T.R.Paarivendhar, MP, Founder and Chancellor, SRM Group of Institutions and SRM Institute of Science and Technology, said the graduates were lucky to receive their degrees on the 75th year of India’s independence. He said SRM IST with over 1 lakh students at different campuses, was a multi-disciplinary institution and was among India’s largest higher education institutions.
Stating that he had dedicated most of his life towards education, he had become an “accidental politician” and a Member of Lok Sabha to serve the young, poor and needy people of India. He said that during his tenure as MP, he had met the Prime Minister, Finance, and Railway Ministers on multiple occasions, urging them to contribute to developing his constituency – Perambalur, among the most backward districts in Tamil Nadu. He appealed to Mr. Vaishnaw to the development of Perambalur, which had no rail network in the district.
Lauding Mr. Vaishnaw, whom he said, was a qualified engineer and who had a distinguished career as an IAS officer, Dr. Paarivendhar also said that the Prime Minister chose his Cabinet colleagues very carefully and it was an important reason for the country to perform well in all sectors, including making India the fifth largest economy in the world.
Mr. Vaishnaw also handed over degrees to Ph.D scholars and medal winning students. 7,683 women and men, received their degrees including Ph.D from the faculties of engineering and technology, science and humanities, medicine and health sciences, and management received their degrees on the occasion.
Dr. Ravi Pachamoothoo Pro-Chancellor (Administration), Dr. P.Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor (Academics), were also present. Prof. C.Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor, presented the annual report. Others present on the occasion included Dr. S.Ponnusamy, Registrar, and Lt. Col. Dr. A.Ravikumar, Pro Vice Chancellor (Medical).