The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India has emerged as an attractive destination for global investors and asked educational institutions to maintain high standards and foster academic excellence. He was addressing the Convocation of Great Lakes Institute of Management, in Chennai.

There was a need to remove economic imbalances, urban-rural divide, end gender and social discrimination and enhance the prestige of all the institutions, including the Supreme Court, CAG, CVC, EC, Parliament and State Legislatures. He said that nobody should say or do anything to undermine the sanctity of these institutions. There are appropriate forums to redress grievances, if any, he added.

The Vice President said that India is the largest Parliamentary democracy in the world and has a track record of effective electoral system and conducting elections on a regular basis. Describing elections as ‘Festival of Democracy”, he complimented the Election Commission for conducting the stupendous exercise in a peaceful and orderly manner.

Naidu advised the graduating students to focus on achieving academic excellence and become socially conscientious citizens. He said that the atmosphere on university campuses should not be vitiated by extraneous issues.

He also told them not to neglect their parents, mother tongue, native place, motherland and Guru (teacher). He further said that they should also strive to promote and protect the safety and security of the motherland.

Naidu also stressed the need for Indian management institutions to adopt globally accepted teaching practices, methodologies and curriculum to ensure that our students are duly recognized in the global job market.

“Every change is potentially disruptive. You have to control and manage this disruption. So equip yourself with knowledge and upgrade your skills continuously”, the Vice President said to the students.

Referring to the impressive academic achievements of students, the Vice President said “it is our onerous responsibility to provide students with best and affordable higher education of global standards which will provide them opportunities to enter the global job market”.