By Our Staff Reporter
Roorkee, 11 May: IIT Roorkee celebrated National Technology Day here, today, by organising multiple events in its Multi-Activity Centre Auditorium. The objective was to deliberate upon opportunities and possibilities for dynamic strategic vision and execution and strengthen the enabling ecosystem for women’s empowerment, connectivity, emerging technologies, organic farming, local products, tourism, wellness, self-help groups, Ayurveda and several other important topics. Academia, state, and industry experts discussed opportunities and possibilities for dynamic strategic vision and execution.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd). Other dignitaries present included Yashpal Sardana, Plant Head, Hero Motocorp; Brig Krishnendu Das; Prof Lalit Kumar Awasthi, Director, NIT, UK; Prof Meenu Singh, Director, AIIMS Rishikesh; Prof KK Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee; and Prof UP Singh, Deputy Director, IIT Roorkee.
The event began with a visit by Governor Singh and the dignitaries to Anushruti Academy for the Deaf.
Later, at the assembly, after the welcome address by Director Prof KK Pant, presentations were made on R&D at IITR, implementation of NEP 2020, and Life at IITR by the Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, Prof Akshay Dvivedi, Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof Apurbba Kumar Sharma, and Dean of Student Welfare Prof Mukesh Kumar Barua, respectively.
The Governor addressed the gathering, after which a felicitation ceremony took place, followed by a round table discussion on “Future Growth of Uttarakhand and Role of IIT Roorkee – Opportunities and Possibilities”.
The Governor and other dignitaries had the opportunity to visit the various departments of IIT Roorkee, including the Tech Exhibition, Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Rethink! The Tinkering Lab and Archives at Mahatma Gandhi Central Library.
In his welcome address, Prof KK Pant, said, “We have recently celebrated our glorious 175 years. As part of the 175th-year celebrations, the institute has conducted a plethora of activities in all domains and surroundings. Recently, IIT Roorkee partnered with MSMEs and conducted a workshop on the role of MSMEs and startups in building Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
He added, “IIT Roorkee will further develop synergistic mechanisms between institutes for knowledge sharing and for creating a knowledge database for the country. Areas such as mushroom farming, honey production, food engineering, healthcare technology, spiritual tourism, village tourism, etc., are to be the focused areas of the institute. Startups and technology transfer in the areas of affordable healthcare for all, “Make in India” under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, knowledge sharing etc., are to be developed. Mentoring local schools to ensure that the right kind of education with a purpose – highlighting on the quality of education to be taken up. Indian Knowledge Systems, vernacular languages, and their importance is one of our focus areas.”
Governor Singh emphasised, “IIT Roorkee is an example of how a 175-year-old institution can adapt and transform itself to meet the modern-day demands of the nation and the world so effortlessly. I am also very pleased to see many Centres of Excellence created at IIT Roorkee. I hope that IIT Roorkee continues to excel in its mission and that we work together on the path of progress and develop sustainable, eco-friendly technology and tools to restore the former glory of Uttarakhand and, in turn, welcome AmritKaal for our nation, India. I would invite IIT Roorkee to envisage projects that create tourist infrastructure, enable promotion and marketing, and capacity-building programmes in and around iconic places of Uttarakhand. ”
