Director, Indian Institute of Sustainability (IIS), Gujarat University, Sudhanshu Jangir met Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, at Raj Niwas on May 28.

Director IIS, Gujarat University briefed about Gujarat University and its famous alumni, including Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He apprised that 60 students from Ladakh, including 30 each from Leh and Kargil, visited Gujarat University for study-cum-exposure tour.

He shared that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between University of Ladakh and Indian Institute of Sustainability, Gujarat University, will focus on four areas, viz. agricultural entrepreneurship/agripreneurship, water conservation, sustainable tourism and providing free education and lodging to students from Ladakh to earn a degree and to develop entrepreneurship qualities.

He further requested to set up a Gujarat desk in Ladakh to facilitate the development of students of Ladakh as entrepreneurs through various training programmes, etc. He shared that Gujarat University would provide support in organising workshops and bringing practitioners/academicians for water conservation, guide in organic and natural farming, create a framework for waste management and train women self-help groups (SHGs) to scale up production designs, etc.

LG Mathur stated that the four focus areas of IIS Gujarat University are critical for Ladakh and expressed hope for more development in these areas in a specific and time-bound manner. He requested Gujarat University to develop entrepreneurial skills among Ladakhi students to enable them to become self-sufficient so that they can provide job opportunities for others and contribute to the development of Ladakh.

LG Mathur spoke about the potential in animal, agriculture/horticulture and handicraft/handloom sectors and the role of Gujarat University as a leading university to provide training to aspiring entrepreneurs from Ladakh in these sectors. He stressed on the need for a deep and sustained relationship between Gujarat University and University of Ladakh.