Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu urged universities and higher educational institutions in the national capital to take a leading role in addressing the city’s growing urban and social challenges, saying campuses should become centres of innovation, awareness and behavioural change.
Chairing an interactive agenda setting meeting with Vice Chancellors and Directors of universities and institutions under the GNCTD, Sandhu stressed the need for stronger collaboration between academia, industry, government and society to equip students with skills, improve employability and promote entrepreneurship.
According to officials of the Higher Education Department and universities, the LG emphasised that educational institutions must actively contribute towards solving issues affecting Delhi, including pollution, traffic congestion, water scarcity, waste management and public health.
As Chancellor of these universities and institutions, Sandhu also called for greater awareness among students regarding sustainable living and conservation measures. He advised students to reduce dependence on private vehicles and adopt public transport and car pooling to help save fossil fuels and reduce pollution levels.
Officials said the LG noted that nearly three lakh students studying in these institutions could become ambassadors of change by spreading awareness not only within their families, but also among their peers and social circles.
The LG further stressed the need to involve students in key civic and social issues such as women’s safety, decongesting traffic, Green Delhi initiatives, urban sustainability, water conservation, groundwater recharge and waste management.
He underlined that universities and institutions could become drivers of the ‘Delhi Behavioural Change Mission’.
During the meeting, several pressing issues concerning Delhi’s development and governance were discussed, with universities being encouraged to undertake focused and solution-oriented research.
On air quality and environment, the LG highlighted the urgent need for collaborative research on pollution sources, mitigation technologies, green urban planning and the public health impact of poor air quality, noting that Delhi continues to rank among the world’s most polluted cities.
Discussions also focused on urban water supply and sanitation, including equitable water distribution, groundwater depletion, Yamuna riverfront rejuvenation and solid and liquid waste management for the rapidly growing population of the capital.
Traffic and urban mobility emerged as another major concern, with institutions being encouraged to conduct data driven research on traffic decongestion, last mile connectivity, electric vehicle adoption and intelligent transport systems.
The LG also stressed the importance of research and outreach programmes on mental health and well-being, especially in view of increasing stress, addiction and mental health concerns among urban youth.
Other key subjects discussed during the meeting included urban poverty, the informal economy, disaster preparedness, flood resilience and post COVID public health surveillance.
