Address by Governor at the Inaugural Ceremony of ‘Avhan 2019’ hosted by SRTMU, Nanded

Publish Date: June 3, 2019

Address by Shri CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the Inaugural Ceremony of ‘Avhan 2019’ hosted by Swami Rananand Teerth Marathwada University Nanded at 1000 hrs on Monday, 3rd June 2019

Dr Udhav Bhosle, Vice Chancellor, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Dr Atul Salunke, State Coordinator, NSS, District Collectors, officers of the National Disaster Response Force, Members of the Management Council and officers of various bodies of the University, Principals of affiliated Colleges, members of faculty and staff, NSS volunteers coming from different parts of the State, Programme officers, students, members of media, ladies and gentlemen,

I am indeed delighted to be with you for the inaugural ceremony of ‘Avhan’ 2019 and to meet all the participants.

I feel happy that over the next 10 days, all NSS volunteers coming from different parts of Maharashtra will undergo training from the officers of NDRF in disaster preparedness and dealing with various emergency situations.

I am sure, this will be a memorable and enriching experience for each one of you, and benefit our society and the State immensely.

I congratulate all the youths who have been selected for ‘Avhan 2019’. I also congratulate the State NSS Coodinator, programme officers and all officers of NDRF who will be imparting training to the youths.

I am extremely happy that the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University is hosting this State level training programme in disaster preparedness.

This is my own University and therefore I am particularly happy that the University named after the great freedom fighter Swami Ramanand Teerth is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year.

I congratulate Vice Chancellor Dr Udhav Bhosle and to all those associated with this University on this momentous occasion.

It is a matter of great happiness that the University’s research laboratory in the emerging field of experimental pharmacology, the ‘Animal House’, is being inaugurated today. I am also happy that the new building of the ‘Central Instrumentation Centre’ is being unveiled today. I wish and hope that students, teachers and researchers from Colleges and Universities and also industry will take advantage of the Central Instrumentation Centre facility.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Nanded has a unique place in the heart of millions of people across the world as the holy land associated with the life and noble work of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru in the Sikh Guru tradition. Devotees from across the world visit the Sachkhand Gurudwara to offer their obeisance and respect at the holy shrine.

I therefore deem it a great honour and privilege to lay the Foundation Stone of the Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Study and Research Centre of the University. The Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis had announced an endowment of Rs 1 Crore for the establishment of a Chair in the name of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji at the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Sammelan held at Ghuman in Punjab. Subsequently on the occasion of the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Gobind Singhji, the Government had sanctioned Rs.25 crore for the establishment of the Chair.

I have no doubt in my mind that the Guru Gobind Singhji Study and Research Centre will become a world class institution of research and comparative study of Sikhism. In my capacity as Chancellor, I assure the University that I will use my good offices to invite the Hon’ble Prime Minister for the inauguration of the Centre as and when the building is ready.

Dear friends and NSS Volunteers,

‘Avhan’ was fourth in the series of events initiated by the Chancellor’s Office. I am happy that like the three other events, namely the Inter University Sports Festival, the Youth Festival and the Inter University Research Festival, ‘Avhan’ has proved to be a highly successful initiative.

During the last 13 years, thousands of youths, particularly, NCC cadets in the initial years and NSS volunteers have been trained in the task of disaster preparedness. I understand that there were occasions when members of the ‘Chancellor’s Brigade’ were called upon to assist the civic administration during emergency situations and I am happy to note that the trained volunteers have risen to the occasion during those times.

I am very happy that after the end of your training, more than one thousand NSS volunteers will be added to the Chancellor’s Brigade.

Dear friends,

India has made spectacular progress in various fields of excellence since attaining Independence. Today India is on the verge of breaking into the league of developed nations. At this juncture, we must remember that every developed nation has at least three distinct features.

Number one is discipline and order. You will notice voluntary discipline among people of developed countries. Number two is respect for the law of the land. You will find people waiting at traffic signals and discharging their civic duties in developed countries. And Number three is disaster preparedness. Most of the developed nations are serious about disaster preparedness.

There is almost unanimous view that we need to do more to observe discipline and order. Even if we observe simple traffic rules, on the street and on train stations and junctions, we can avoid many accidents. Discipline and respect for rules must be inculcated in every child and must be observed scrupulously by each one of us. I will call upon each one of you to become role models of discipline and civic mannerism.

As one of the most populous and rapidly urbanizing countries in the world, India is vulnerable to many disasters. Large cities having densely populated areas are more vulnerable during disaster situations. We will have to evolve and work out, area specific strategies to tackle any eventuality taking place in these areas.

Last week, all of us witnessed the fire incident in a private coaching class in Surat. About 20 young boys and girls jumped out of windows when they noticed fire and died of injuries.

We must provide basic training in survival skills to children from schools and colleges. Japan and Israel are role models as far as disaster response is concerned. We must evolve a basic protocol of personal safety to be observed by each one of us.

I think, we in Maharashtra must earmark a day for security drill every year. Short educational films on disaster prevention can be screened in schools and colleges on such days. Sensitizing the citizens and more particularly children about disasters is critical to reduce the impact of disasters.

The role of Mass Media in creating awareness about disaster preparedness and prevention is very important.

Friends,

Global warming and climate change are right at our doorsteps. We have seen the severity of the summer and we are also witnessing the depleting of our water resources. I will call upon NSS to take up tree plantation as a regular activity and spread awareness about conserving and harvesting water.

This year, the nation will be celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India had given the call to make India a clean nation by 2nd October 2019. Each one of us must do our bit to make the cleanliness a mass movement. I wish and hope that all universities in Maharashtra will regain their tempo in carrying forward the good work of cleanliness.

With these words, I congratulate the host University and all the participating NSS volunteers and the Programme Officers as they embark on their training camp in disaster response and wish them success in their endeavours.

Thank you.

Jai Hind !! Jai Maharashtra !!