New Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presents degrees to a student at the 3rd annual convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru University, in New Delhi. (PTI)
As protests raged outside JNU’s convocation venue over the hostel fee hike, with students alleging that those from weak economic backgrounds would suffer, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, who was the chief guest, praised the university’s admission policy for making education accessible to women and the marginalised.
“It is a matter of pride that JNU has become synonymous with academic excellence in the country. Of course, at times it is in news for the wrong reasons. I am also pleased to note that women constitute 51% of the students because of special admission policy for them, students hailing from distant places and those belonging to marginalised sections,” he said.
Naidu said it was important that “young women, particularly those from marginalised sections, gain increased access to the portals of colleges and universities”.
“Women’s empowerment through education will have a positive impact on the society and on our future generations. It is often said that educating a woman is equivalent to educating a family,” he said.
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“Thus, institutions of higher learning have to play a very vital role in ensuring quality and equitable education to women. In this context, I would also like to stress the need for political empowerment of women by providing adequate reservation for them in Parliament and State legislatures,” Naidu added.
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