45th Foundation day ceremony of BAU

Ranchi: Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Minister, Dept of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative said that Birsa Agricultural University should serve as a focal point for socio-economic and technological strengthening of farmers and mitigating their pains and predicament. It is not only a factory for producing graduates and postgraduates in agriculture and allied disciplines.

She was addressing the 45th foundation day function of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Thursday. She said any institution is known for the talent, vision, attitude and dedication of people who run it and not by the buildings, infrastructure or books it has. The Minister said she was trying to find solution to the problems of BAU despite difficulties. Teachers, students of the university, state government and Raj Bhawan need to join hands and thrash out institution’s issues with their concerted and dedicated efforts. Scientists should regularly visit villages for technology transfer as their attitudes will be engrained in students also. We should desist from individualistic approach and try to realise the dreams with which the institution was established over four decades ago.

She also interacted with the students about what prompted them to join agriculture- veterinary disciplines for education and appealed to them to devote some part of their resources and time for the society when they are settled in life. Anybody having good hands, feet and sound mental health can contribute a lot to society.
Earlier, the minister also inaugurated the building of College of Agricultural Engineering, released BAU Annual Report and felicitated innovative farmers.

Secretary Agriculture Aboobacker Siddikh P stressed that maintaining and improving teaching standards should be the first priority of BAU as students are the brand ambassadors of the institution. Teaching quality should never be compromised as students’ performance at interviews for jobs and admissions to reputed institutions for further higher studies can make or mar the image of his/her alma mater.

Welcoming the guests, BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey said development of climate resilient and bio-fortified crop varieties and diversification of state agriculture by incorporating horticulture and animal husbandry in the system was the future thrust of the institution. He also drew the attention of the minister towards the vacant positions of teachers, scientists and other staff and pending ACP/ MACP facility to non teaching staff.
Suresh Kumar Baitha, Kanke MLA and Dr Sujay Rakshit, Director, Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi were also present.

Students honoured for obtaining the highest overall grade point average (OGPA) in different disciplines include Ishita and Abhishek Kumar Pathak (Agriculture College, Garhwa), Ambika Raj (Ranchi Veterinary College), Kumari Kajal (College of Fisheries Science, Gumla) and Lakshmi Kumari (College of Forestry, Ranchi).
Six octogenarian retired persons felicitated for their lifetime contribution to the university are Dr Jyotindra Prasad Srivastava, Dr Krishna Prasad Singh, Dr Ramdeo Prasad Gupta, Bipin Bihari Sinha, Ramanandi Prasad Singh and Kanhaiya Prasad Srivastava.

In the essay competition for teachers Dr Nandani Kumari of RVC was adjudged first while Vandana Choubey of CAE stood second. Isha Srivastava and Chandan Kr Yadav were winners in the essay competition for UG students while Smita Shalini Kullu ranked first in PG students. Akhilesh Kumar and Bharti Kumari bagged first and second prize in the essay writing competition for non-teaching employees.

Five progressive farmers viz Sangita Kumari (Bokaro), Sitaram Dangi (Chatra), Taruna Murmu (Giridih), Deepak Kumar (Pakur) and Gopal Bhagat (Ranchi) were felicitated for their special contribution to farm sector.