Brain drain affecting nation's progress: Shekhawat

Raipur, Oct 13 (UNI) Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhwat today said there was a need to check brain drain as it was adversely affecting the nation's progress.

Speaking at a function after laying the foundation stone of the new building of the Government Engineering College here, he said ''youth must go abroad if they get opportunities to acquire knowledge and obtain training in new subjects. However, they must return to serve the society and the nation''.

Referring to the target of making India a developed country by 2020, Mr Shekhawat said it would be possible only if the country made economic progress and the students got equal opportunities for higher and technical education.

Noting that Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa have vast mineral resources, he said these states would require technically qualified and trained manpower once these states start exploiting these resources and establish industries based on them. More courses in engineering are required to meet the demand for manpower, he added.

The Chhattisgarh government has established a new engineering college in the state capital after the existing government engineering college, Raipur was converted into National Institute of Technology (NIT).

State Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K M Seth, chief minister Dr Raman Singh and his cabinet colleagues and BJP MP Ramesh Bais were among those present.

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