Rourkela, Aug 22: National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT) Rourkela on Thursday hosted the "Viksit Bharat@2047" workshop, a significant event aimed at generating innovative ideas towards achieving better health and education in India by 2047.

The workshop brought together distinguished speakers, experts, and participants to discuss strategic interventions in health and education, envisioning a developed India by 2047.

The event commenced with the registration of participants, followed by the inaugural session in the Senate Hall. The programme began with a warm welcome address by the Programme Coordinator, Prof. Jalandhar Pradhan setting a positive tone for the day's proceedings.

“We have gathered here to tackle various socio-economic challenges to achieve holistic, high-quality, and affordable healthcare and education. Our goal is to generate ideas by discussing key issues such as reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and lowering school dropout rates, particularly through the use of technology in government schemes and proposed initiatives, all aimed at realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047,” Pradhan said.

Registrar of NIT Rourkela, Prof. Rohan Dhiman addressed the audience, emphasizing the institute's commitment to contributing to national development goals. He urged students to embrace their responsibilities by practicing 'reduce, recycle, and reuse' in their daily lives, and avoiding waste of electricity and food. He emphasized that with Education and Healthcare as the thematic areas for NIT Rourkela's Viksit Bharat initiative, the institute will continue to organize similar events to reinforce our collective efforts toward national growth.

Director in Charge of NIT Rourkela, Prof. Pradip Sarkar, delivered the Presidential Address, identifying key factors contributing to the low happiness index of the country, such as population growth, agricultural distress, environmental pollution, climate crisis, unemployment, low living standards, malnutrition, gender gap and high incidence of maternal and infant mortality. He emphasized that addressing these issues is essential to achieving the Viksit Bharat vision.

Prof. Sarkar stated, "As an educational institution, we are responsible for developing practical and actionable solutions to some of these challenges and proposing a comprehensive report. This is our opportunity to showcase our problem-solving strategies for the betterment of society. I hope this program will inspire students to adopt a progressive mindset and create a roadmap to tackle these critical issues practically."

The workshop was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Prof. (Dr.) Akhil Bihari Ota, IAS (Retd.), Former Director of STSCRTI, who delivered an inspiring address. His insights set the stage for a day of thoughtful discussions and idea generation.

"For Sundergarh district, It is important to strengthen the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) by providing the necessary support and addressing health and educational infrastructure gaps. This effort should be coordinated with initiatives like the National Health Mission and supported by effectively utilizing CSR funds at the district level. Additionally, we must commit to enhancing the quality of education and healthcare in alignment with the broader vision of 'Vikshit Bharat' within our institutions. As Odisha approaches its 100th anniversary in 2036, which also marks the 75th foundation day of NIT Rourkela, I recommend that the institute's leadership develop a visionary plan to commemorate this significant milestone," Ota said.

The workshop featured four invited talks by renowned experts in healthcare and education. Dr. Lalit Manik, Co-founder & CEO of MedTel Healthcare, spoke on "Harnessing Technology: AI and Digital Health for Advancing Public Health in the 21st Century," emphasizing the transformative potential of technology in healthcare. Dr. Balakrishna Panda, Former Director of Public Health, at the Government of Odisha, delivered an insightful talk on "Integrative Approaches to Health Information and Education in Holistic Health." He also delivered a talk on the importance of Health Literacy that should be addressed at the community level.

Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF, Sourav Bhattacharjee presented on "Investing in Nutrition: Strategic Interventions for Enhanced Health and Reduced Healthcare Costs," stressing the importance of nutrition in improving public health outcomes. Dr. Ratnakar Dash (Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, NIT Rourkela), discussed the "Integration of AI in Healthcare," providing valuable perspectives on the future of healthcare technology.

The workshop also included an interactive session titled "Youth Voices Interaction: Planning for Action," where participants engaged in group discussions to identify actionable steps based on the insights gained during the workshop. The session focused on formulating a roadmap for implementing changes in educational contexts and fostering ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The event concluded with a Valedictory Address by Dr. Jalandhar Pradhan, summarizing the key takeaways and insights from the workshop. Dr. Pradhan also facilitated the collection of feedback from participants to improve future initiatives and acknowledged the contributions of all speakers and attendees.

The "Viksit Bharat@2047" workshop at NIT Rourkela was a resounding success, providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration towards building a healthier and more educated India by 2047.

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