Himachal needs technology-driven solutions to tackle natural disasters: Governor Kavinder Gupta

 Calls upon youth to drive Viksit Bharat-2047 while keeping pace with emerging technologies

 Himachal Pradesh needs technology-driven solutions to effectively address the challenges posed by snowfall, landslides and other natural disasters, with a particular focus on developing technologies capable of providing early warnings and enabling timely interventions to minimise loss of life and property.This was stated by the Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, while addressing the 8th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una as the Chief Guest at Lata Mangeshkar Kala Kendra, Una.

 The Governor said the State, with its unique geographical and climatic conditions, offers several opportunities for young technologists to develop innovative solutions with direct societal impact. He called upon the graduating engineers to leverage their technical knowledge and emerging technologies to address the specific needs of Himachal Pradesh, particularly in disaster management, agriculture, water conservation and rural entrepreneurship. “The true purpose of technical education is fulfilled when knowledge and innovation are translated into solutions for the real problems of society,” the Governor said.

 Referring to the rapid transformation taking place in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, semiconductors, robotics and quantum computing, Governor Kavinder Gupta said the pace of technological change presents both opportunities and responsibilities for young engineers. He urged them to remain lifelong learners and use their technological capabilities to create solutions that are affordable, accessible and capable of benefiting the wider population, particularly people living in rural and remote areas.

 Congratulating the graduating students, their parents and faculty members, the Governor said a convocation marks not merely the completion of an academic journey but the beginning of a new phase involving greater responsibilities and opportunities. “Your degree is not your destination; it is the foundation of your journey,” he said.

The Governor said the graduates were stepping into the professional world carrying with them the trust of their parents, the expectations of their teachers and the aspirations of the nation.He called upon them to contribute to the realisation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat-2047, while continuously upgrading their skills in response to emerging technologies.

 Highlighting the central role of youth in nation-building, Governor Kavinder Gupta said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasised that India’s youth are its greatest strength and that the country’s progress in the 21st century will be driven by knowledge, skills, innovation and technology.He said the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047 extends beyond economic growth and envisages an India that is technologically empowered, self-reliant, innovative, inclusive and capable of providing global leadership.

“The Prime Minister has called upon the youth to actively participate in the nation’s development journey in the spirit of ‘Sabka Prayas’. I am confident that the students and young engineers of IIIT Una will give new energy and new direction to this national resolve,” he said.The Governor also stressed that technological excellence must be accompanied by character, integrity and responsible citizenship. He urged the graduates to remain committed to environmental protection, national unity and integrity, and their responsibilities towards society.

 Lok Sabha MP Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, in his address said the youth are not only the future of India but also its destiny. He said education opens the doors to knowledge, new ideas, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, and urged young people to face challenges with courage and confidence.Emphasising the important role of youth in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat-2047, Shri Thakur invoked the inspiring spirit of Param Vir Chakra awardee martyr Captain Vikram Batra’s iconic words, “Yeh Dil Maange More,” and called upon the graduates to strive to do something better for the nation. He also urged students to understand their constitutional rights and duties, stay away from drugs, take up sports and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

 Rajya Sabha MP Prof. Sikander Kumar said India’s youth are ready to lead the country in the 21st century. He called upon the graduates to become job creators rather than merely job seekers and contribute to national development through knowledge, science, art and technology.A total of 206 students were conferred degrees at the 8th Convocation of IIIT Una, including 189 B.Tech. and 17 M.Tech. (CSE–Data Science) graduates. The occasion also marked the graduation of the first batch of M.Tech. CSE (Data Science) students.

During the convocation, the graduates took an oath and pledged to uphold integrity and the dignity of the nation, their profession and the institution. They also committed themselves to environmental protection, national unity and using their knowledge for the service of society.Director, IIIT Una, Prof. Manish Gaur, presented the institute’s academic session progress report, highlighting its achievements in academics, placements, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

 The B.Tech. graduating batch recorded an impressive 95.86 per cent placement rate. Of the 169 students who appeared for placements, 162 were selected.The highest annual package stood at Rs 53.6 lakh, while the average annual package was Rs 13.46 lakh. More than 70 recruiters participated in the placement process.The branch-wise placement rate was 96.49 per cent in CSE, 98.31 per cent in ECE and 92.45 per cent in IT.

 In B.Tech. CSE, Vansh Gaba secured the Gold Medal with a CGPA of 9.21, Amritansh Jha the Silver Medal with 9.16, and Paras Tyagi the Bronze Medal with 9.10.In B.Tech. ECE, Chandraditya Parmar secured the Gold Medal with 9.43, Kaustubh Agrawal the Silver Medal with 9.31, and Sharma Vivek Anilkumar the Bronze Medal with 9.17.In B.Tech. IT, Anshika Arora and Harsh Yadav jointly secured the Gold Medal with 9.19, Tushar received the Silver Medal with 8.79, and Aryan Arya the Bronze Medal with 8.74.

In M.Tech. CSE (Data Science), Ankur Sharma secured the Gold Medal with 8.73, Shivangi Thakur the Silver Medal with 8.24, and Kishan Srivastava the Bronze Medal with 8.23.Former HPSIDC Vice Chairman Prof. Ram Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal, Superintendent of Police Sachin Hiremath, members of the Board of Governors and Senate, faculty members, parents and members of the institute community were present on the occasion.The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by IIIT Una Registrar Ravi Saini.