Education, not handouts, is the key to lifting families out of poverty: Viswanathan

Founder-chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), G. Viswanathan, emphasized the importance of education in improving the living standards of poor families during his address at the STARS Day 2024 event. He stated that government handouts and freebies are not sufficient to uplift families living below the poverty line, and only education can bring about lasting change.

Mr. Viswanathan urged both the Central and State governments to focus on increasing the enrollment of students in higher education, citing the disparity between India’s 27% higher education enrollment rate and China’s 60%. He highlighted the success of public initiatives like scholarships in the North Arcot district, which has historically been economically and educationally disadvantaged.

The Chancellor commended Tamil Nadu for surpassing the national average with a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of over 50% and mentioned the government’s target of achieving a 50% GER by 2035 under the National Education Policy 2020. He also emphasized the role of public donations in providing scholarships to deserving students.

During the event, Mr. Viswanathan unveiled the VIT Stars Magazine and presented the first copy to film director Bharathiraja. The presence of prominent figures like film producer Kalaippuli S. Thanu and VIT vice-president Sankar Viswanathan added to the significance of the occasion. The event served as a platform to underscore the transformative power of education in breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals to build a better future.