Chennai: VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan said that no government has yet been formed in any state in the country that provides education free of cost.
The centenary celebration of Professor Vedagiri Shanmugam Sundaram was held yesterday at D.G. Vaishnav College in Arumbakkam, Chennai. VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan, speaking as the chief guest, said: If a country is to develop, its GDP and per capita income must grow. India, which ranks 6th in the world in GDP, is 177th in per capita income. The reason for this is inequality.
The British abandoned caste-based enumeration in 1931. After 100 years, under pressure from political parties, the central government has agreed to conduct a caste census again. There are 4.6 million castes in India. Social justice is necessary. But it must be genuine social justice for the people. Central and state governments that give away everything for free—dhotis, sarees, bicycles, grinders, mixers, laptops, bus passes—have not been able to provide education for free.
No state in the country has so far established a government that provides education free of cost. Through the “VIT Stars Scheme,” our educational institution is implementing a social welfare program that provides fully free higher education to rural government school students. Only if education is made accessible to everyone can the economic growth that Professor Shanmugasundaram envisions be achieved. Everyone must work together to create a society without inequality. He said this.
The festival souvenir was released by former Reserve Bank Governor C. Rangarajan and received by Jaya Educational Trust Chairman Kanakaraj. Several leaders conveyed their greetings to Professor Vedagiri Shanmugasundaram and his wife Yasodha Shanmugasundaram, who attended the event.
They said: MDMK General Secretary Vaiko: Just as Karl Marx was supported by his wife Jenny in writing the book ‘Capital,’ Professor Vedagiri Shanmuga Sundaram has been supported by his wife Yasodha. That is why he has been able to achieve many accomplishments. He has held many positions, including Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Economic Association, Member of the Indian Economic Association, and Member of the Reserve Bank Advisory Committee, and has achieved many accomplishments.
DK leader K. Veeramani: The phrase “a good family is a university” truly applies to them. Because both husband and wife have served as vice-chancellors of universities. They spoke thus.
VCK leader Thirumavalavan, Communist Party of India senior leader Mutharasan, New Justice Party leader A.C. Shanmugam, and DMK MP Tamilachi Thangapandian also spoke with greetings.
