Take up corporate social responsibility initiatives,Pratibha Patil tells colleges

Drawing attention to the problem of water availability for agriculture,Patil said the state needs to find ways to conserve rainwater and find ways to use non-conventional energy sources. “Today more than 60 per cent of our population lives in rural areas and we have plentiful resources in terms of dairy produce. We need to capitalise on our strengths and gain from them. A group like DSK should lead the way in engaging in continuing their CSR activities,” she added.

The gaming industry has grown by about 12 per cent between 2005-09 worldwide and by 2013,a 10 per cent growth per annum is expected,she said. Emphasising the growth potential of a sunrise sector like gaming in the Indian markets,she said DSK Infocom’s initiatives can prove to be very timely for the Indian workforce.

Those present at the event included speaker of Maharashtra state Assembly Dilip Walse Patil,medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit,other dignitaries and representatives from the French government and the France campuses of Infocom.

President Patil on Friday underlined the need of developing technology that would bring down the price of solar energy,which,she said,is one of the most important options for reducing the use of conventional energy resources.

Patil was speaking at the award distribution ceremony of Environment Friendly Village Scheme awards. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan,Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil and MP Supriya Sule were also present on the occasion.

“We have limited resources and to pass them on to the next generation we need to use them with care. Electricity is a limited resource and it’s the need of the hour to turn towards the non-conventional resources. Solar energy can be a very effective option. But it’s high cost is proving to be a major hindrance for its spread. Whenever I visit a research institute,I urge scientists that they should work towards making solar energy available at cheaper rate so that masses can afford it,” said Patil.

Patil stressed the need of cultivating habits that are eco-freindly. “Today the way the natural resources are being used,we must ask ourselves that are we using the resources irresponsibly and greedily. It’s the need of the hour to propagate the use of non-conventional energy.”