Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

World University Service Centre committed to development of society

Staff Reporter

Ready to offer practical solutions to financial problems "Educational institutions have a greater role to play in the development of the place where they are located"

PROGRESSIVE APPROACH: Prof. G.S. Randhawa, president, World University Service - Indian National Committee, presenting a book to the Vice- Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, P. Maruthamuthu, at a seminar in Madurai on Tuesday. The Director of the Centre for Dr. Zakir Hussain Studies, G. Velan, looks on.

MADURAI: The World University Service Centre is committed to offering practical solutions to financial problems that hamper the development of society, said G.S. Randhawa, president, World University Service-Indian National Committee, here on Tuesday.

Inaugurating a seminar on `Role of universities in empowering the weak and neglected,' organised by the Centre for Dr. Zakir Hussain Studies of Madurai Kamaraj University in commemoration of the birth anniversary of the past President, which is being celebrated all over the country as World University Service Day, he said that the national committee would attempt to solve any financial problems hindering the prospects of development activities in local community by recommending proposals to the central body in Geneva.

The central body, which had contacts with several funding agencies in countries like Sweden, Finland, Germany, United Kingdom and Canada, would try to get funds from the agency, which wished to take up the problem, said Prof. Randhawa, who is also a former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

The World University Service came into existence with the prime objective of serving the society, as it had understood the fact that educational institutions had a greater role to play in the development of the place where they were located, he added.

With no one coming forward to offer solutions to inequality of opportunities that existed in society, the role of educational institutions became vital, he said.

Pointing out the lack of social justice and prevalence of inequality all over the world, Prof. Randhawa said, "The educational system should incorporate and assert in its aim and objectives things which most of us have failed to do."

Presiding over the function, P. Maruthamuthu, Vice Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, said the role of universities was more in empowering the weak and the neglected.

Greater responsibility

He also pointed out that universities had a greater responsibility in bringing out employable students.

As the competition grew stiffer, educational institutions were in a challenging position to produce students of international class.

It was also imperative for institutions to ensure that education reached the underprivileged sections of society, he said and added that they should effectively involve themselves in extension activities through which this mission could be achieved.

Earlier, Prof. Randhawa presented a Tamil book, titled `Uppu Satyagraha Veera Varalaru' authored by D. Devaraj, to Dr. Maruthamuthu. K. Kasim, Inspecting Authority, Maulana Azad Education Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice, delivered the keynote address. G. Velan, Director, Centre for Dr.Zakir Hussain Studies, and A. Sri Murugan, Head, Department of Library Science, spoke.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

World University Service Centre committed to development of society
Bristle worms throw light on seawater pollution
Paddy cultivation: Madurai district crosses its target
NABARD team to visit Madurai schools
Pictorial exhibition on Dandi march
Sports meet for rural youth
Partial cancellation of trains from today
University announces semester examination dates
Cut-off date
Around the City
In Madurai Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu