Mizoram University and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala to launch STI hubs in Mizoram

Funded by the Dept of Science & Technology, these hubs would promote sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities

Mizoram University and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham of Kerala have joined hands to launch science, technology and innovation (STI) hubs in the districts of Aizawl and Serchhip in Mizoram, an official statement said on Tuesday.

Funded by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, these would promotesustainable livelihoods through capacity building, skill development for tribal communities, awareness against substance abuse, digital literacy, and awareness about nutrition and preventive health to help improve the overall well-being of the people of Mizoram.

The initiative was launched at an event titled “Mizoram Conclave on C20: Education & Digital Transformation,” organised by the Civil 20 Working Group on Education and Digital Transformation (EDT) and hosted by the two varsities at Mizoram University campus in Aizawl on Tuesday.

The Conclave witnessed two panel discussions on “Education under C20/G20 and alignment to National Education Policy 2020” and “Digital Transformation under C20/G20.”

Addressing the event, state Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said that India has undergone a revolution in the digital arena.

“Not only are we now headed towards a 6G revolution, but also we are now calculating our cost of living based on digital needs,” Kambhampati said.

“Earlier, we used to calculate the per capita cost of living on the basic needs of roti, kapdaaurmakaan, which means food, clothing and shelter. However, in a modern digitized society, these parameters have changed because our basic and fundamental needs have gone beyond these three things. Today, we need to calculate the index of cost of learning. And, in a modern society, the cost of learning is parallel to the cost of living,” he said.

State chief Secretary Dr Renu Sharma recognized the present Modi-led government’s thrust on digital literacy but underlined the fact that digital infrastructure needs a higher outlay of funds in the state.

She, however, noted with pride that Mizoram’s literacy percentage is the second highest in the country, second only after the state of Kerala.

Tribal culture is blessed with gender equality and therefore the percentage of literacy amongst Mizo women is as high as 89.7 per cent, she added.

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