ieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 'Deeksharambh, the 15-day Student Induction Program at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar campus, describing the event, aptly named ‘Anekta Mein Ekta Diwas’ (Unity in Diversity Day), as a Great Festival of India's Great Spirit. The event, held on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was hailed as a true tribute to the 'Iron Man of India'.

The Lt Governor lauded the transformation at SKUAST-K over the past three to four years, which has led to a revolutionary change, turning the campus into a "Mini-India" with students from states like Arunachal Pradesh to as far as Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, and even international students.

Lt Governor Sinha praised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ganai, and his team for understanding the spirit of the occasion. He emphasized that the gathering of students, speaking different languages and representing diverse cultures, constitutes the real strength of the country, with Kashmir as its head and Delhi its heart. He asserted that the student presence is a ‘shaubh sankeet’ (auspicious sign) and a testimony of unity in diversity that will send a message from Srinagar to Sikkim.

Sinha credited the efforts of the Prime Minister for completing the unfulfilled dreams of Sardar Patel, which has enabled J&K and SKUAST-K to reach a stage where the university is now counted among the top agricultural universities in the country, actively contributing to the nation's policy-making and innovation.

Shifting focus to the students' role in national development, the Lt Governor stressed the importance of the agriculture sector as the backbone of the Indian economy. He set a clear objective for the young demography: to achieve a consistent 5% annual growth rate and sprint ahead in agriculture and allied sectors to fuel India's growth story toward a Self-Reliant and Developed India.

He highlighted the need for 'Smart Agriculture', modern scientific, and sustainable targets to be achieved quickly. He said the agriculture budget has increased five times to Rs1.27 lakh crores since 2014, reflecting the government's commitment to the sector, adding the export of processed food has reached $10.2 billion, and overall agriculture exports have crossed the $50 billion dollar mark.

Addressing the future agri-scientists, Sinha noted the immense opportunities created by Agriculture 4.0 in research, technology, agribusiness, innovation, and startups. He pointed out the revolution in seed production, pest management, food processing, and farm management, with around 7,000 startups in the agriculture and allied sectors nationwide, including over 300 agri-tech startups.

While praising SKUAST-K for its academic achievements, he said every citizen of J&Kis feeling proud with the news about the number of patents SKUAST-K has secured, and encouraged students to leverage the SKUAST incubation centre to realize their ideas and even start their own ventures from the campus. He advised the students to get exposure about the 29 HADP projects.

The Lt Governor's message to the students was one of resilience: "You have to face many challenges and failures in life, you have to accept them, change them into opportunities and move forward." The event concluded with the Lt Governor appreciating the students' diverse cultural show, which perfectly showcased the spirit of Ekta Mein Ekta.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, in his welcome address,  highlighted the university’s student diversity and the role of Sardar Vaalbh Bai Patel in uniting the country. 

The welcome address was followed by 12 Cultural performances from students representing various states of the country and abroad.

The Lt Governor also visited the newly developed Chrysanthemum Garden (Bagh-Gul-I Dawood) and food stalls established by the students from various states showcasing the cuisine diversity of the country.