Mother Teresa Chair in IGNOU Inaugurated
New Delhi: Government of India shall establish 50,000 Technology/Skill education Centres to provide skills to 50 lakh personnel and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has a big role to play as the ultimate destination for those who cannot afford education through conventional universities.
This was announced today by Shri Oscar Fernandes, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on MHRD at the inaugural of the Mother Teresa Chair in IGNOU. The Guest of Honour was Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas, Bishop of Malankara Catholic Church, Delhi.
Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas in his address stated that it is a fitting tribute from the part of the Indian Government to establish the Mother Teresa Chair in the name of Bharat Ratna and Nobel Laureate Blessed Mother Teresa. Prof. Gopinath Pradhan, VC, IGNOU, said that IGNOU is the largest University in the world catering to 29 lakh students in India and abroad.
Prof Gracious Thomas, Director, School of Social Work, IGNOU in his welcome address stated that the main objectives of the Chair are: to promote socially relevant programmes in the area of philanthropy and inter-religious studies, to undertake extension activities targeting the HIV infected, leprosy patients, street children, refugees, destitute, and other vulnerable population, to organize training and skill development programmes for socio-economic development of vulnerable sections of the society, to organize training, workshops, seminars, conferences etc. on socially relevant topics, to celebrate Philanthropic Day on August 26th, the birthday of Blessed Mother Teresa, and to constitute awards and scholarships.
source: press release