concern: PrezVisakhapatnam, Dec 7 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovindtoday said the overall gender imbalance in scientific andtechnological institutions was be a matter of concern.
He said that the true test of India's progress lay in theaccess and opportunities it provided to girls in education.
He was addressing the faculty and students of AndhraUniversity College of Engineering for Women here afterlaying the foundation stone of an e-classroom building andan incubation centre.
"The overall gender imbalance in our scientific andtechnological institutions continues to be a concern," hesaid.
"A true test of India's progress is in the access andopportunities we provide to our daughters when it comes toeducation," Kovind said.
He exuded confidence that this centre would enhance thecountryÂ’s capacity to produce high-quality women engineers andtechnologists.
"I am happy to note that 40 per cent of students inAndhra University are girls," he said.
"Some of our leading defence and space scientists whohave powered our missile programmes and rocket launches arewomen. Last week, I was privileged to felicitate Tessy Thomas,known as the Missile Woman of India, at Agra University," thePresident said.
The President, who also declared open the Centre forDefence Studies in Andhra University, said research related todefence and military applications and technologies hadmultiple benefits.
"As experience in other countries has shown, research indefence technologies can also lead to innovations that havediverse civilian applications," he said.
Kovind said that the Internet, information technology andspace technologies have changed the human society and all ofthese have either originated in or seen acceleratedresearch in defence technologies.
He said that it would provide a "tonic" to the Make inIndia programme to innovate, develop and manufacture militarytechnology and equipment.
Lauding the Andhra University professors and researchersfor their collaborative efforts in defence projects, includingthe Brahmos missile development programme, the President hopedthe university would continue to be a technology hub for thecountry.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief MinisterN Chandrababu Naidu, Union Civil Aviation Minister P AshokGajapati Raju, Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa,Visakhapatnam MP Kambhampati Hari Babu, AU Vice ChancellorNageswara Rao were among others who attended the function. PTIDBV BNMSC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.