N Chandrababu Naidu asks Andhra University to develop Rs 100 crore corpus fund
Visakhapatnam: Andhra University faculty and students should spearhead the ‘cashless transaction movement’ and drive the people towards digital economy, said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Mr Naidu was speaking at the second Alumni Day of Andhra University, which had witnessed the presence of Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, GMR Group chairman and AU Alumni Association chairman G. Mallikarjuna Rao.
Mr Naidu informed that the AU students would be given credit for taking up the cashless transaction project as part of their studies. “The iconic university had produced eminent personalities in its 90-year existence, who can now extend their helping hand. I want to see AU stand at par with Stanford and Harvard Universities and I extend all my support in this process.
These universities hold highest alumni corpus fund and now I ask the AU Alumni Association to work towards collecting Rs 100 crore corpus fund. From the state government, I will give Rs 10 crore. AU officials should concentrate on money-generating programmes to make the varsity self-sustainable, such as becoming consultants for various research activities. I ask the students to turn towards cashless transactions and educate the rural people,” Mr Naidu added.
On this occasion, GMR Group chairman handed over Rs 1 crore check to Mr Naidu. Mr Venkaiah Naidu announced Rs 1 crore from Hudco. Narsapuram MP Gokaraju Gangaraju announced Rs 1 crore donation.
Earlier, Mr Venkaiah Naidu explained how the fundamentals he learnt at the AU helped him attain higher positions in the later years. “Nobody should forget his alma mater. Students should have a goal in life. When a paperboy A.P.J. Abdul Kalam can become a President and tea-seller Narendra Modi can become Prime Minister, everybody can achieve their goal if they try it with sincerity” he added.
In the evening, Mr Venkaiah Naidu visited his classroom and canteen, where he studied and roamed during his student days at Andhra University, and reminisced the old memories.
