KOCHI: Varsities should fulfil their obligation to society through academic excellence and new research findings, Minister for Education C. Raveendranath has said.
Speaking after inaugurating the main entrance and solar project at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit at Kalady on Saturday, Mr. Raveendranath stressed the role of research in making society scale the heights. “Universities should take the lead in conducting outstanding research. Also, they should constantly engage with people,” he said.
The Minister also laid the foundation stone for the varsity’s language block and staff quarters. Roji M. John, MLA, presided over the function. Vice Chancellor M.C. Dileepkumar delivered the keynote address. The main entrance gate was constructed at a cost of ₹61.99 lakh. A statue of Sankaracharya made by faculty members and students of the department of painting was also unveiled on the occasion.
The solar panels installed on the terrace of the academic block can generate 100 KW of power. Up to 15,000 units of power can be generated by the panels which are 400 in number. The cost of the project is ₹83.85 lakh. The varsity expects to save up to ₹2 lakh in electricity charges once the plant becomes operational. An estimated ₹5.7 crore will be utilised for the language block. The three-storey building will house the English department on the ground floor and Malayalam and Hindi departments on other floors. A seminar hall with a capacity to seat 110 persons will also be part of the block.
The varsity has earmarked ₹8.14 crore for constructing staff quarters. The seven-storey building will have 20 units for non-teaching staff.
