Youth are India's growth engine: PM Narendra Modi

CHENNAI: A strong government does not control everything or everyone. It is responsive, not restrictive, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at Anna University's 42nd convocation ceremony here on Friday. "The whole world is looking at India's youth with hope because you are the growth engine of the country, and India is the world's growth engine. It is a great honour. It is also a great responsibility," Modi said.
A total of 3.16 lakh engineers graduated at the function on Friday, and Modi handed over gold medals to 69 toppers. Another 1,800 received their Ph D degrees. The event saw a subtle display of camaraderie between Prime Minister Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, both of whom skirted contentious topics like NEET.
Mentioning the New Education Policy (NEP) in the passing, Modi said, "a strong government's strength lies in its humility to accept that it cannot know or do everything. That is why you see reforms in every sphere that make greater space for the people and their freedom."
On his part, Chief Minister Stalin made no mention of NEET, Tamil Nadu's own education policy and other issues pertaining to state autonomy. He, however, underlined his government's Dravidian model of governance on the education front.
Modi told the freshly-minted engineering graduates three factors -- use of technology, trust in risk-takers and temperament for reforms -- were in their favour. Post-pandemic, every sector in India is bursting with new life and India is at the forefront whether it is industry, innovation, investments or international trade, he said.
"India's position in the international trade dynamics is at its best. Our country recorded the highest-ever exports of goods and services. We exported food grain at a crucial time for the world. We recently signed a trade deal with the UAE to our West and with Australia to our East. India is becoming a vital link in global supply chains," PM told students.
In his speech, Stalin said Tamil Nadu had moved from 14th place in the ease of doing business rankings to third place in just one year. He said industries such as semiconductors, E-vehicles, Lithium-ion batteries, solar photovoltaic, green hydrogen and data centres were showing interest to invest in Tamil Nadu.
Higher education minister K Ponmudy said abolition of entrance test for engineering courses has raised the number of rural students pursuing engineering degrees from 25,000 to 77,000 in Tamil Nadu.
Highlighting the university's achievements in the past one year, Anna University vice-chancellor R Velraj, said 2,092 students from the university's four campuses were placed in 256 companies during 2021-22.
Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi administered the pledge to the graduates.