Vice President M Venkaiah  Naidu was on a two-day visit to Puducherry since Sunday. On Monday, Inaugurating the Puducherry government-sponsored first Technological University (called Puducherry Technological University) here, the President emphasized that research and development should be accorded in every sphere of programmes for national development. He said research and findings of institutions should come out with new ideas and out of box findings ''to make the country stable, strong and prosperous.'' Naidu also said it was cutting edge researches in science and technology that helped developed nations to go ahead of other nations. The vice president said that he had always stressed the significance of research and development in all spheres of national development. ''It is the innovative research in science, technology and other fields that puts developed countries ahead of the rest,'' he added.

He further said, ''if we must make India a developed nation, we will have to create an enabling ecosystem for researchers.'' Naidu said there should be the promotion of ideas that would help the country face the challenges arising out of climate change, pollution, poverty and other health issues. He called upon educational institutions ''to have increased interface with the industry to promote result-oriented research that addresses contemporary challenges such as climate change, pollution, health, and poverty.'' The Vice President said that a massive literacy programme was also necessary with 20 per cent of the country's population being illiterate.

The education sector was one of the worst affected ones during the pandemic, he said, adding the massive free vaccination programme to keep the infection at bay was a big initiative going all over the country.

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