Nashik:
Fifty-seven jail inmates from different prisons in Maharashtra, including two women, got their degrees in BA and BCom. As many as 56,419 students were today conferred degrees and diplomas by the city-based Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra University (YCMOU).Maharashtra Governor K Shankarnarayanan in his capacity as Chancellor of universities, conferred the degrees at the YCMOU's 17th convocation ceremony.
In his address, Rajshekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor of the New Delhi-based Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), said varsities play a decisive role in implementation of global, national and regional mission mode Government projects, which may not be directly connected with education. "Participation in such projects will give academics and students an opportunity for contextual and ground level understanding of various short and long-term developmental needs of the society."
"A top-rated education system and world-class technological resources are the most essential ingredients for a strong economy," Pillai said. He asked graduates to assume greater responsibility in the society and lauded YCMOU for providing distance learning courses.
As many as 36,387 students were given degrees, 17,075 were conferred diplomas, 2,922 received post-graduate degrees, 35 got research degrees and 23 were awarded gold medals.