Youth must drive development: Lt Governor

Jammu, Sep 8: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivered the keynote address at Foundation Day ceremony of University of Jammu, Monday.
In his address, the Lieutenant Governor called upon Jammu University to leverage innovation and cutting-edge technology for conservation, integrating sustainability in education and preparing students to address emerging challenges to build Viksit Bharat.
“Our youth must drive development that meets societal needs without compromising ecosystems and optimize the use of resources through modern innovation. We need to adopt a multi-dimensional approach to make the earth better for the future generations,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor urged the faculty members to guide and lead youth in their responsibility to balance nature with development. It is our shared responsibility to protect Mother Earth and promote the culture of environmental awareness at all levels of society, he added.
Extending his heartiest congratulation to the Vice Chancellor, faculty members, non-teaching staff and students on University’s foundation day celebration, the Lieutenant Governor urged to set new and challenging goals and pursue them with a renewed sense of zeal and enthusiasm.
“Today’s occasion is also an opportunity for self-analysis, self-exploration, and self-introspection. I am proud of the exceptional accomplishments of our universities in the recently released NIRF-2025 Rankings. While on one hand these rankings should be seen as a revolution, a transformation in the higher education landscape of Jammu Kashmir, on the other, we should critically evaluate our rankings and go back to the drawing board to set new goals,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He observed that the process of change in the campus should continue uninterrupted so that the students remain determined, eager to learn and do something new and have the passion to face the future challenges.
“Real world experience bridges the gap between theory and application. Classroom must be transformed into a thinking room, a room full of curiosity and creativity. Experience-based, interdisciplinary, life-skills & project-based education should be our focus to prepare youth for the unpredictable world,” the Lieutenant Governor further said.
The Lieutenant Governor exhorted the University to start short-term professional programs to deal with climate challenges and research on floods and landslides.
“Today the whole world is affected by natural disasters. There was massive destruction of infrastructure and loss of lives in Jammu Kashmir. The Government of India is fully committed to ensure that normal life resumes once again and the affected people are rehabilitated properly.
Once the road connectivity is completely restored, the university administration must send groups of students to serve in different areas and prepare a team of volunteers who will assist and help the district administration in relief and rehabilitation of families affected due to recent natural calamities in the UT,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor felicitated the Alumni of the University of Jammu and called upon them to make their valuable contribution to the progress of the University.
NSS and NCC Volunteers, retired teaching and non-teaching staff of the Jammu University were also felicitated on the occasion.
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Northern Region Transmission System – II) handed over PA System and Streetlights to University of Jammu under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Justice Tashi Rabstan, former Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court; Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Tarun Bajaj, Executive Director, PowerGrid; Dr Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies; Prof. J.P Singh, Dean Academic Affairs; Dr Neeraj Sharma, Registrar, distinguished alumnus, faculty, staff and students of Jammu University were present.