S. Vishnu Sharma
SRM University AP turned cynosure of all eyes recently when it took the initiative of enhancing voter awareness.
The voter awarness programmes of SRM University AP was held to mark the celebration of National Voters Day.
The chief objective behind the programme was to inspire the voters to enhance their participation in the electoral process.
Voter’s Day was initiated by Mrs Pratibha Patil, former President of India to mark the 61st foundation day of Election Commission, said G.V. Ramprasad, the guest of honour for the function organised by SRM University AP.
G.V. Ramprasad is MRO and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer at Mangalagiri. He was speaking about how crucial it is for people to take part in large numbers in the electoral process.
SRM University AP gives a great push for voter awareness
If democracy is to succeed, participation of people is must, he said.
Speaking further at the function at SRM University AP, Ramprasad said however, only 50 to 60 percent of the votes are cast on an average.
This only shows that not many people are aware about the great power that democracy provides them, said MRO Ramprasad at SRM University AP.
The concept of celebrating Voters’ Day came into being with this goal to make these people understand their power in deciding the nation’s future.
He also informed that this year, the Government of India has agreed to launch e-EPIC card for voters’ benefit.
EPIC is a portable document format.
The PDF version of the EPIC which can be downloaded on mobile or in a self-printable form on the computer.
A voter can thus store the card on his/her mobile, upload it on Digi locker or print it and self-laminate it.
This is in addition to PCV EPIC being issued for fresh registration.
Mr. Earnest Samuel concluded by reminding the audience that in or after 1947, several countries got their independence.
But none carries a legacy as ours. It is each and every one of our duty to carry forward this legacy so that India can be Democratic in its true notion, he said speaking at SRM University AP.
Pro-Vice Chancellor of SRM University AP Professor D. Narayana Rao said the main motive behind celebrating National Voters Day is to ensure the facilitation of new voters and encourage their participation in casting votes.
To understand this power of Democracy, one must be aware of this nation’s history.
The journey from monarchy to democracy was arduous. In previous days, to change one’s king or leader, the people have to go through a violent process such as revolt or execution of the king.
Now the process is much easier. One only needs to cast his vote to the person he prefers.
In this way, only those who are chosen by the people of the country will be elected to run the nation.
Therefore, it is essential to cast one’s vote. Votes are the voices of people in a democracy.
In the absence of votes, the nation might not get the leaders it needs., said Pro Vice Chancellor of SRM University AP.
Salute to patriotism
Patriotic fervour ruled the roost at SRM University AP recently when it rose to the occasion to celebrate 72nd Republic Day.
26 January 1950 was the day when Constitution of India came into effect and that day is celebrated as Republic Day.
Like every year, this year too the faculty, staff and students of SRM University AP gathered with great enthusiasm to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the university celebrated Republic Day by following the safety rules and regulations.
The celebration of R-Day at SRM University AP began with a Rangoli Competition, in which people from the surrounding villages took part.
The special moment arrived when Pro Vice Chancellor of SRM University AP ventured ahead to hoist the national tri-colour.
Professor Narayana Rao said explained India’s progress since independence in the fields of Education, Industry, Healthcare, Agriculture, Information Technology and others.
At the time of independence, India was a poor country with 12% literacy rate and 35-40 years of average life expectancy.
In the past 70 years, India has emerged as one of the world’s leading knowledge superpowers. Many other countries also earned independence at the same time as India’s.
But only India has been able to utilise its human resources and wisdom to achieve greatness.
In the following years after independence, India did not even have enough food grains to feed a country of 30 crore people, said Professor D. Narayana Rao of SRM University AP.
Food grains had to be imported from other countries like Myanmar.
However, today, India not only is solvent enough to feed its 130-crore people but also exports food grains to other needy and poor countries, said Pro Vice Chancellor of SRM University AP.
Be it agriculture, education or healthcare, India’s progress so far has been remarkable.
The reputed institutes such as IITs, IISERs, NITs, IISc, ISIs, AIMs are performing beyond expectations educating the people of this country.
Leading research organisations and regulatory bodies such as CSIR, ISRO, DRDO, DST, DBT are rigorously working to make this country do big and achieve big.
These organisations came into being with great vision, and we feel very proud to say that they are on par with any other organisations of the leading developed countries.
COVID-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented crisis all over the world. But Indian biotech companies were able to make the COVID vaccines within a very short span of time.
It is a moment of pride for every Indian that India has become the world’s vaccine factory. No other country has the capability to produce vaccines in such a large number”, asserted Professor Rao.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of SRM University AP further added that India had progressed very much in establishing communication even in the remote villages with the help of satellites.
India’s advancement in designing, developing, and launching satellites is exceptional.
Data connectivity and the Internet are the basic needs of today’s world, and India is the country that provides such connectivity at the lowest price in the world.
Over the years after independence, India has learnt to use its human resource effectively.
In today’s world, India produces the most numbers of skilled professionals to meet the need of this era. Indians are scaling greater heights in every sphere.
Satya Nadela, Sundar Pichai are a few examples of how Indians are taking over the world with their brilliance and intellect.
This country has been politically independent for a while, and it is now high time to be technologically independent.
‘We are progressing very fast, and we have the power and potential to emerge as one of the major economic powers in the coming days.’
With a capability to turn every crisis into an opportunity, we move forward towards an ‘Atma-Nirbhar Bharat’ following our Prime Minister’s advice of Innovate, Patent, Produce and Prosper, said Professor Narayana Rao.
Mr Raviteja Reddy, Mr A Chaitanya, Mr P M Aditya, Mr K Praveen, K Yeshashwini, A Sravya, K Vasu, G Priyanka, students of mechanical engineering, demonstrated their eco-friendly bike which was made recently by converting IC Engine bike to electric bike, under the mentorship of Dr Venkata Nori and Dr P Jayaprakash Sharma.
Their successful venture was highly praised by the dignitaries present in the event.
The celebration at SRM University AP concluded with prize distribution ceremony.
The winners of rangoli competition and fancy-dress competition for Kids received praises from Professor Narayana Rao.
Dr Sutharsan Govindrajan, Department of Biology, Dr Mannathan, Dr Mahesh Kumar Ravva, Dr Nimai Mishra, Department of Chemistry, Dr Jatis Dash, Dr Siddhartha Ghosh, Department of Physics received felicitations for their research contribution in Nature Index Ranking-2020.
Registrar of SRM University AP Mr Ernest Samuel Ratnakumar and Revathi B., assistant director of student affairs at SRM University AP and Abdul Mohimin, assistant director of sports at SRM University AP were among others present.
Professor Rao felicitated Dr Sutharsan Govindrajan, Department of Biology; Dr Mannathan, Dr Mahesh Kumar Ravva, Dr Nimai Mishra, Department of Chemistry; Dr Jatis Dash, Dr Siddhartha Ghosh, Department of Physics for their research contribution in Nature Index Ranking-2020.