| INVITATION |
| ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
|
Invitation Programme VC Message |
| C.M to inaugurate new Campus at Vizianagaram |
|
Honourable Chief Minister Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy Garu will lay foundation stone for the newly started Andhra University Campus at Vizianagaram at 4-30 PM on Sunday, 17th October, 2004, according to Prof.Y.C.Simhadri, Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University. The Government has handed over 100 acre land to Andhra University at Gajula Rega village in Vizianagaram. The Andhra University campus at Vizianagarm will be the Fourth Extended Campus of the University. The others being Etcherla (Srikakulam), Kakinada (East Godavari) and Tadepalli Gudem (West Godavari) in addition to the Main Campus at Visakhapatnam. It may be recalled that the University administration decided to have campuses in all the revenue districts of Andhra University area. Recently, the Honorable Chief Minister had laid foundation stone for the Tadepalli Gudem Campus.
Prof.Y.C.Simhadri, Vice-Chancellor, said that already courses like
M.A Education, M.C.A and M.B.A were started in Vizianagarm Campus. Invitation
Andhra University invites you to the inauguration of the
A.U Campus at VIZIANAGARAM
Dr.Y.S. RAJASEKHARA REDDY Guests of Honour
Sri PINNAMANENI VENKATESWARA
RAO
Sri BOTSA SATYANARAYANA
and
Sri SATRUCHARLA VIJAYARAMA RAJU
Prof.Y.C.SIMHADRI presides
Date & Time : 17th October, 2004 at 4.30 p.m.
SPEECH DELIVERED
by Prof. Y.C. Simhadri,
Vice-Chancellor,
Honourable Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy garu, Honourable Minister for Higher Education Sri Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao garu, Honorable Minister for Major Industries, Commerce & Export, Sri Botsa Satyanarayana garu, Honorable Minister for Forest, Environment, Science & Technology, Sri Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju garu, Honourable Member of Parliament Sri Pydithalli Naidu garu, Honourable MLA Sri Veerabhadra Swamy garu, ZP Chairperson, Smt. Jhansi garu, Respected Principals and Special Officers, University fraternity, elite of Vizianagaram, friends from the Press & Media, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good Evening!
The economic and social development of any country depends upon higher education and the intelligentsia. This issue was given emphasis at the national level, particularly by our great Prime Ministers Smt. Indira Gandhiji and Shri Rajeev Gandhiji, who brought several reforms in higher education. Prime Minister Late Shri Rajeev Gandhiji laid strong foundations for the spread of computer literacy in India and was instrumental in spreading information technology and technical education. The great democratic polity has enhanced her stature all over the world by the recent self-sacrificing act of Madam Sonia Gandhiji. Her gesture has given a new meaning to the lexicon of public life and I am sure the education that we are trying to impart in the Campus will add to the purification of public life. Ever since the new Government has taken over the reigns of the State, it has concentrated on the problems of the rural masses. Our Honourable Chief Minister, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on the day he assumed office has waived electricity dues, provided free electricity to small farmers and also taken up several steps to reduce farmers' distress. One should remember here that it was Madam Sonia Gandhiji, who first mooted the idea of providing ex-gratia to the dependent of those agricultural farmers who committed suicides. The entire State is grateful to our Chief Minister who brought the Prime Minister to the State to provide first hand information on the plight of farmers. Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhji has positively responded and promised to do the needful on priority basis. Your efforts to bring down the Naxalite Movement to the main stream of the society is laudable. We hope that the negotiations that are going on at Hyderabad will yield fruitful results. This will be the greatest achievement in the history of Andhra Pradesh. Your leadership in laying the foundation stone to Pulichintala project the other day will be a landmark in the irrigational development of Andhra Pradesh. As most of you are aware that Andhra University was established in 1926 with Dr. C.R. Reddy as its founder Vice-Chancellor followed by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan who later became the President of India and Dr. V.S.Krishna who occupied the Chairmanship of University Grants Commission. The University is known for its high academic values and rich heritage. Several Vice-Chancellors, Professors and Researchers in various Faculties contributed for the development of the University and the community and it has become a Center for Dissemination of Knowledge. At this moment, I am very happy to inform you all that the NAAC of UGC has ranked Andhra University with 'A' grade with highest marks among the Universities in the State of Andhra Pradesh. As I mentioned earlier, Andhra University has a brilliant history of academic excellence. The present administration, the faculty and scholars are making every effort to protect the academic standards, rich heritage and good culture. All these efforts helped the University in moving close to get the recognition for "Centre for Excellence" to be conferred by UGC. At present the University is short-listed by the UGC in this regard. Libraries are considered the nerve systems of knowledge centers. Hence, a lot of emphasis was laid on the developmental and expansion activities of Dr. V.S.Krishna Library at the Main Campus by the present administration. With the efforts of one and all, the library is made available to users round the clock. With the help of INFLIBNET, access to e-journals is made available. Now efforts are being made to totally digitize the books in the Library. The University established several Research Centers and Institutes such as Population Research Center, Center for Studies on Bay of Bengal, Center for SAARC Studies, Institute of Transport Management, Institute of Public Sector Management to name a few, which are carrying in-depth research in the fields relevant to society. For studying problems in agriculture and allied sectors in the State with the support of Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Andhra University established an Agro-Economic Research Centre. During the last three years the Centre conducted Studies on Farmer suicides, flow of credit to small and marginal farmers, agricultural subsidies to SCs and STs, ground water, marketing, minimum support prices, rural-non-farm employment and agricultural policy under WTO regime, etc. The University is always at the forefront in responding quickly to the study of current social and economic problems. Steps are already initiated to send a multi-disciplinary Research Team to conduct an integrated study on the suicides of farmers. At this juncture, I humbly submit that recently a panel discussion was also organized by the Department of Economics of Andhra University on "Farmers' Suicides". In the Andhra University emblem there are 64 petals on the outer crest of the lotus representing the 64 Arts. True to its motto the University has been imparting education and carrying research in many faculties. This is quite unique. Andhra University which is one of the pioneering Universities, in offering multi-faculty programmes has risen to the occasion and started academic programmes in computer education and technical courses. Keeping in view the aspirations of the people in the 5 districts of Andhra University's jurisdiction, besides the campus at Visakhapatnam, the University extended its campuses and the courses to both Srikakulam and East Godavari Districts through its campuses at Etcherla and Kakinada. The present administration felt that there is need to spread higher education in the rest of the districts, i.e., Vizianagaram and West Godavari Districts. I am highly grateful that the Government of Andhra Pradesh is extending its wholehearted support for starting new campuses in Vizianagaram and Tadepalligudem. The foundation stone to AU campus at Tadepalligudem was laid by your goodself on 11th July 2004. Just a few minutes ago our beloved Chief Minister Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy garu laid foundation stone for the Andhra University Campus at Vizianagaram. I hope and trust that the newly born Andhra University campus will grow from strength to strength with your blessings. It will not be out of context to mention here that in the beginning, when the idea of starting a campus at Vizianagaram, with the help of Sri P.L.P. Raju of our former member of Executive Council and Prof. G.L.N.Raju associated with Medical college of Vizianagaram approached Sri Ashok Gajapathi Raju garu, former Minister of Revenue who readily agreed to help us in this venture. Vizianagaram town has rich historical and cultural-heritage. This is a place of historical importance and it attained great prominence and became center of arts and culture. Many of the existing educational and cultural institutions in this place had their origin from the dynasty of Rajas of Vizianagaram. A special mention has to be made about Rajah Saheb, Sri P.V.G. Raju garu. Great personalities like Gurajada Appa Rao, Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Kodi Rama Murty, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, Harikatha Pithamaha Sri Adibhatla, the Great Music Director Saluru Rajeswara Rao, and many great stalwarts who brought name and fame to our country hails from this region. In fact, originally Vizianagaram was proposed to establish Andhra University in 1926. For Political and other reasons Visakhapatnam was chosen. Now that the new AU campus is located at Vizianagaram, the Government has allotted 100 acres of land and we are thankful for the same. Our vision is to make Andhra University campus at Vizianagaram to become an independent University by itself in the years to come. Vizianagaram has all the potential and has very rich cultural heritage and strong foundation in higher education. In all respects, Vizianagaram has all the added advantages to have its own University. This includes, a nucleus of prominent educational and cultural institutions; nature's availability of abandoned land; great vision, determination and philanthropy of people of the Vizianagaram; and the present Andhra University Campus at Vizianagaram. Though this year we have started PG Courses like MA Education, MBA and MCA, from next academic year we would like to offer more courses especially in science faculty. We want to start forest based courses. Since a vast forest land is available in this area. Therefore, we request the Government to sanction another 200 acres wherein the University proposes to start faculties and courses in social forestry, forest management and other allied courses. In this land we want to establish field station and field laboratories for providing research and developmental activities and also grow to medicinal plants which is advocated by His Excellency, the President of India, Bharat Ratna, Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. Similarly we would like to consider starting MA Sanskrit, MA(Music), MA (Dance) Bachelor of Performing Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts etc., As per the UGC guidelines for setting up a new University we need to have atleast 400 acres of land. I hope the Hon'ble Chief Minister keeping this vision will consider for allotting another 300 acres of land. As many of you are aware Andhra University is having about 400 colleges affiliated to it which is coming in the way of efficient monitoring of colleges. Srikakulam District has 38 colleges and Vizianagaram District has 56 colleges affiliated to it. Both the districts put together about 100 colleges are there which will be an ideal number to start any affiliating university. Similarly East Godavari District has 99 colleges and West Godavari District 80 colleges affiliated to Andhra University, which constitutes 180 colleges. And there is also a very good case to start a University for both East and West Godavari Districts put together. Subsequently Andhra University be upgraded into a Central University, which will further enable to conduct high potential research and action oriented developmental activities. This way the University get funds and grants from Central Government and as a result burden on State Government will be relieved. With the grant given to Andhra University, the Government can easily support the two suggested new Universities in the state. I hope this will resolve the issue of regional imbalances. I request the Honourable Chief Minister Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy garu, Hon'ble Ministers Sri Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao garu, Sri Botsa Satyanarayana garu, Sri Satrucharla Vijaya Rama Raju garu, and other people's representatives, officials and public to extend all the possible support and help for all-round development of the present Andhra University Campus, at Vizianagaram and also I thank one and all profusely for establishing Andhra University campus at Vizianagaram. I also thank Sri Dharmana Prasada Rao garu, Hon'ble Minister for Revenue, the District Collector and other officers of Vizianagaram District for helping to grant the land. I wish the Vizianagaram Campus of Andhra University to have a great future. Thank you one and all
|
This site is best viewed by Internet Explorer with 800 * 600 Pixels in High Color (16 Bit).
Copyright © 2004 Andhra University. All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.