Sam Pitroda, advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on public information, infrastructure and innovations, has emphasised on building infrastructure for knowledge to have an inclusive growth in the country.

Speaking on the report of the Knowledge Commission of which Pitroda was the chairman, he highlighted five aspects of knowledge: access, knowldege concepts (vocational, primary, second, training, etc), knowledge creation (innovation, research, etc) application of knowledge and use of knowledge in (e-) governance.

Pitroda, who was born in Titlagarh in Orissa, was in Bhubaneswar to attend the consultative interactive session of the Task Force on Higher Education under the aegis of the department of higher education, government of Orissa.

He suggested for the state certain priority areas- disparity, demography and new Methods of Learning- to focus on. Dr. Pitroda called for a radical approach and out-of-the-box thinking to turn things around and suggested the dignitaries present to begin to question the existing paradigm.

Among other suggestions for the state, notable ones are: focus on vocational education, convergence of research and teaching, encouraging public-private partnership, use of technology, allowing more autonomy/flexibility/ freedom to all vice chancellors.

Among others, the state minister for higher education, tourism & culture, Debi Prasad Mishra, chairman of the Task Force, Prof. Trilochan Pradhan, Dhanadakanta Mishra and Prof. Chtta Baral spoke on the occasion.

The interactive session witnessed vibrant participation from Vandana Kumari Jena, secretary, department of School and Mass Education; M S Padhi, secretary, department of Higher Education, Saurabh Garg, secretary, Industries; eminent academicians and members of the Task Force.

Image: Sam Pitroda. | Photograph: Paresh Gandhi