Youth are growth engine: Ganesan

Imphal: Manipur governor La. Ganesan on Tuesday said, youth of a country are the engine of growth and therefore they are to be equipped with knowledge, skill, wisdom and dedication.

The governor was speaking at the 35th Convocation ceremony of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Regional Centre, Imphal held today at Asha Jina Complex, North AOC.

Youth should be encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to find solution to every problem. “We are one of the youngest nations in the world with around 65 per cent of our population are under the age of 35. Our vision should be to make India Numero Uno in the world,” Ganesan said.

Acknowledging the fact that IGNOU is a university for catering to the educational needs of prospective learners through open and distance mode, Ganesan said, it is commendable and praiseworthy that the University is providing affordable education to the underprivileged students, reaches the door steps of the learners with its excellent student support system. IGNOU offers free education to jail inmates.

With the opening of three study centres at Moreh, Kakching and Thoubal recently, students have been provided facilities for learning. The study centre particularly at Moreh serves the educational need of international students since the town being located on the international border with Myanmar. Thus, IGNOU, Regional Centre, Imphal is serving the State as well as internationally, he added.

Congratulating all the students, the governor said convocation is a special occasion that means so much in the lives of students. It is that wonderful day when the years of academic life culminate into a coveted degree. Let this not be an ending to academic life but mark a new beginning for all the future subjects. Governor distributed degree, diploma certificates to the students in the ceremony.

Regional director, IGNOU RC Imphal, Dr S.J. Neethirajan also spoke on the importance of IGNOU in imparting education to all the sections in the society. He said, village level awareness programmes especially in the remote interior areas will be conducted to enroll students in different programmes in the university.

Altogether 1,239 students have completed their degree, diploma and certificate programme this year.