U Kamachi Mudali, the Vice-Chancellor of Homi Bhabha National Institute, has called upon governments to actively encourage women, especially those hailing from rural areas, to pursue higher education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Speaking at the 55th annual convocation of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Mudali stressed the historical subjugation and systematic oppression faced by women.
He highlighted the role of education as a crucial instrument for women's empowerment. Tamil Nadu, according to Mudali, surpasses the national Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER), with over 50% enrollment, and records higher numbers of women in undergraduate and postgraduate programs compared to men.
While addressing the event, Governor R N Ravi conferred degrees upon the students and administered the graduation pledge. However, the Higher Education Minister, K Ponmudi, chose to boycott the event in protest of the governor's refusal to grant an honorary doctorate to freedom fighter N Sankaraiah.
Mudali emphasized that many female students from rural areas exhibit academic excellence in school, but their parents may struggle to afford higher education. To address this, he called upon governments to introduce supportive schemes for women's higher education. He also commended the 'Pudhumai Penn' scheme by the Tamil Nadu government, which offers a Rs 1,000 incentive to girls enrolling in colleges.
Meanwhile, MKU Vice-Chancellor J Kumar presented the university's annual report, highlighting that 134,570 students received their degree certificates at the convocation. Mudali's call to promote STEM education among rural women comes as a significant step toward gender inclusivity and empowerment in India's education sector.
