Principal, Fr Daniel Fernandes has called upon students to be responsible and work towards bringing about harmony and change in India.
He was addressing the students after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day celebration in the campus here on Tuesday.
He said: “Our country is a great country. However, evils like corruption have done harm to us. Our own state Karnataka ranks first in the list of most corrupt states. Men like Anna Hazare are working hard to restore the lost pride of our nation and the young people must support him.”
Making reference to the survey conducted by the Times of India which states that rural youth are the most disadvantaged as regards education, he said: “We have 40% our population between the age group on 13 to 35. It is a young nation. The challenge before us is only 11% of the youth make to the higher education. What happens to the other large number of our youth? Either they are unemployed, underemployed. They too have dreams and aspirations like any of us. As we celebrate the Independence day its our responsibility to be sensitive to the youth of our country.”
Fr Principal also said that poverty was yet another major concern in the country and called upon students to contribute their mite to work towards alleviating poverty. "In spite of the progress we see in some pockets our country, there are a large number of our people in the villages and tribal areas who lack basic necessities for a meaningful existence. As responsible citizens of the country we should never loose sight of this fact," he said.
Fr Principal further added, “Ours is a young nation and hence the future lies in the hands of the young. It is, thus, important that young people come forward and join politics and take leadership in this country.”
He also said that education is the key to the future of the country. “Only through education can a nation grow. The government must make sure that all children get education and thus are able to come up in life.”
Protocol Officer, Mr Anuplal led the ceremony to perfection. There was also a short cultural programme after the flag hoisting where students from the Cultural Committee sang patriotic songs and performed a dance.
