The much-awaited IIT might remain a dream for Kerala, but Keralites are going to be treated with a special gift by the HRD Ministry. Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for HRD, announced that Cusat will be upgraded as Indian Institute of Science and Technology (IIST) in some months. Tharoor was speaking after inaugurating the MLA award ceremony, an initiative taken up by Hibi Eden MLA to honour students who have excelled in academics.
“The hurdles before CUSAT have been dealt with. The files are moving fast. We hope Cusat will be upgraded to the status of an IIST at the earliest”, he said. “I tried my best to bring an IIT to Kerala. But the Planing Commission prefers to strengthen the existing IITs than start new ones. So Kerala will have to wait for some more time”, he said.
By quoting demographic statistics, Tharoor pointed out that India will become a major economic power, if the potential of the youth is tapped. “By 2020, India will have a vibrant population of working youth. The average age of the Indian population by 2020 will be 29. If this potential is tapped, India can overtake China in terms of economic growth”, he said.
He added that the policy of the UPA government is
to ensure growth and address issues of economic inequality.
Pointing at the remarkable number of girls in the list of achievers, he said that “Women are increasingly becoming visible in the realm of higher education. Kerala tops this trend in India. Women’s education is a significant factor in the development of a society. In India, the entry of women into the public realm can positively influence society.”
He advised students to actively take part in the political process. “These days people with good educational qualifications are entering politics and contributing towards the society’s growth”, he said. The MLA Award 2013 was organised in relation with the MLA’s Reach Out Programme. Hibi Eden MLA, Mayor Tony Chammany, Deputy Mayor B Bhadhra, among others, addressed the gathering.
Congress does not target any social group
Sashi Tharoor said that Congress does not discriminate on the basis of caste or religion. The culture of the Congress is to respect diverse opinions, he said. He was addressing media on the sidelines of a function at St Theresa’s college, Kochi.
When asked about the conflict between NSS and Congress, Tharoor reiterated that Congress does not target any social group. “Most of the controversies are unwanted”, he said. He added that Congress is not worried about Narendra Modi becoming influential in BJP. “People are aware of the track record of Modi and know what happened during the Gujarat riots. We are not worried, as it is an internal matter of BJP. We are confident of facing elections”, he said. Tharoor admitted that “IPL controversy has affected young and aspiring players”. However, he skirted a question on Sreesanth and remarked that legal processes should be respected.
