SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday called upon J&K’s academic and technical institutions to catch up with the emerging knowledge-sharing scenario globally by forging cooperative relationship with their counterparts around the world. She said unfortunately J&K’s institutions are seen to be left out in the fast-changing academic scenario and it is time for them to pull alongside through exchange of ideas and knowledge.
“Jammu and Kashmir needs more interaction with the outside world as there are lot of misconceptions about this place which have to be removed so that our enterprising young boys and girls reap the benefits of globalization and economic liberalization that swept the world when our state was embroiled in an unfortunate situation which was not of our own making,” the Chief Minister said while inaugurating International Conference on “Nanotechnology for Better Living” being organised at SKICC here jointly by National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
Around 500 scientists and academicians from within and outside the country are attending the 4-day international conference and will be presenting papers on how best to use the nanotechnology for the betterment of the humankind.
Stressing the need for improving the State’s academic connectivity with the rest of the world, Mehbooba said; “We have to connect to the larger world outside through physical connectivity, economic connectivity and knowledge connectivity to explore the full potential and capabilities of our youth.” Complimenting the managements of NIT Srinagar and IIT Kanpur for organising the conference in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said such events will not only help in sharing of knowledge but would also go a long way in removing the misconceptions about Jammu and Kashmir.
She urged the participants of the conference to take some time out and visit some of the picturesque places in Kashmir including Dal Lake, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Renowned scientist, Padamshree Prof K.L Chopra, Vice-Chancellor Central University of Kashmir, Prof Mehraj-ud-Din, Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir, Prof Khurshid Andrabi, Chairman Board of Governors, NIT Srinagar, Dr M.J Zarabi, Director IIT Kanpur, Prof I Manna, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof Rajat Gupta and Chairman ICNBL, Prof Kamal K Kar also addressed the inaugural session.