Page 18 - Strategic Plan 2016-25

Vellore has been an under-developed district in terms of education, economy
and industrial growth, which warrants many initiatives aiming at boosting its
prosperity. In Indian context, rural development assumes special significance in as
much as about two thirds of the population still lives in villages and the
backwardness of the rural sector would be a major impediment to the overall
progress of the country’s economy. Hence, VIT consciously chose to implement
various measures to uplift the quality of life of the rural mass in and around

Vellore.

India is predominantly an agricultural country and farming is the main
occupation. Moreover, technical developments in the field of agriculture have not
percolated down to the poor. It was therefore felt necessary to make arrangements
for the distribution of the fruits of development to the rural population.

VIT as an institution par excellence, through its centers (Centre for
Sustainable Rural Development and Research Studies, for instance) and Student
Club Chapters, implemented several programmes aiming at the societal

development in a holistic way . Some of the major programmes are listed below:

VIT implemented Support the Advancement of Rural Students (STARS)
programme in 2008, this programme aims to provide opportunities to pursue
quality higher education to the underprivileged rural students. Each year, sixty-
two students from rural Tamil Nadu, who top the higher secondary examinations
of the State Government in their respective districts are offered free education,
food and accommodation in VIT. Initially this scheme was started in Seven
Districts. Later, it was extended to all 31 Districts except Chennai from 2009
onwards; the newly inducted six more districts would be benefitted by the STARS
programme from 2020 onwards. A team of faculty members, would be sent each
year to different places in the State to counsel the students in this regard. These
students, who did their schooling in Tamil medium, are taught English through

special (bridge) classes.

VIT’s “Centre for Sustainability Rural Development and Research Studies
(CSRD&RS)” primarily aims at skill development training programmes for
unemployed youths.

Further, VIT has implemented 67 societal outreach programmes; some of the
major programmes are listed hereunder:

Kasuva village Visit - Free Medical Camp and supply of medicines.

Adoption of five villages for development activities.
Promoting Govt. school performance and giving career guidance to school
students for their future studies.
Agriculture and Farmers knowledge management.
VIT has been organizing Agri-Expo (Uzhavar Kalanjiyam) every year.