Prof Menon for greater social responsibility of corporate secto

Guwahati, May 26 (UNI) As the nation debates over the corporate sector's social responsibility, eminent scientist M G K Menon today hinted that the sector was falling short of its duties.

He was delivering the convocation address at the eight convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati (IIT-G) here.

Altogether 379 degrees of various levels were awarded at a ceremony in the IIT-G indoor stadium here. As many as 190 BTech and B.Design degrees were presented, besides 53 MSc degrees, 127 MTech and nine Phd degrees.

B Tech degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology were awarded by the Institute for the first time.

Prof Menon said, ''It is my conviction, from long interactions with these sectors, that this (social responsibility) is not adequately appreciated.'' Pointing out that today's students are moving into a 'highly fractured society', he called upon them to fulfill their duties towards their alma mater and nation with utmost sincerity.

Maintaining that India had achieved much success in the recent past, he identified at least two major handicaps in the country's growth.

He said, ''Two of these (handicaps) clearly are - inadequate attention to human resource development and inadequacy of the infrastructure.'' He further said 'slowness in putting the necessary infrastructure in place' proved detrimental to the progress of the country.

Chairman of the Board of Directors A K Saikia, in his speech, highlighted the role of IIT-G in the growth of North East, in the context of globalisation and 'Look East' policy of the Centre.

He said, ''This IIT can play a pivotal role in the development and growth of this underdeveloped region.'' Director of IIT-G Gautam Barua, in his report, dwelt on the initiatives and programmes undertaken by the premier institute.

He said the expenditure under the Plan Head had been the highest last year since the IIT-G was established and more was being spent to build infrastructure.

He said the Institute would be adding about 300 students every year, with projected student strength of 3800 by the end of 2011-12.

The IIT-G currently has about 1500 students on its rolls.

He informed that the faculty strength had increased by 11 in the past year and called upon more students to look towards teaching as a career option.

Ashwin Subramani of Chemical Engineering department won the President of India Gold Medal while Nishant Gupta of Mechanical Engineering was conferred the Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal for overall performance.

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