By TIOL News Services

KOLKATA, AUG 24, 2014: THE President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, has called for restoring the atmosphere conducive for research and perfect teacher-student relation in educational institutions of the country. He was addressing the students of the Krishnath College at Baharampur, Murshidabad yesterday.

The President said there is need for serious introspection on why our educational institutions are not among the front ranking institutions in the world although there is no dearth of qualified teachers and brilliant students. He said mere expansion of physical infrastructure in educational sector alone cannot bring about proper improvement or lead to comprehensive development. The concept of a knowledge society means only by acquiring superior technology can a country become a super power.

Highlighting the importance of innovation, the President said no country can progress without innovation. Higher educational institutions can take a leading role in encouraging innovative activities. Central Universities have been asked to create innovative hubs for search of local innovators, identification of their products and marketing of the same. He said research should aim at solving the problems of poor people.

The President said according to International Patent Agency (IPA) in 2013, India's share is only 0.7 percent for new patents while that of China is 8.6 percent, Japan 26 percent, USA 36 percent and Germany 38 percent. This also points to the need for attaching more importance to research and innovation, he observed.

Mr Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, MP and President of the Governing Body of the College and Mr Kalyanaksha Ghosh, Teacher-in-Charge of the College also spoke on the occasion.