Deputy Chief Minister inaugurates IIIT Una's annual technical festival 'Meraki-2026'
Una(The Uttam Hindu): Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri inaugurated the annual technical festival 'Meraki-2026' of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una on Saturday. This tech fair is being held from February 7 to 9. On this occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister also released the logo of Meraki-2026 and the institute's magazine 'Pragati Parimal'.
In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister laid special emphasis on working in the field of drone technology and robotics. He said that the need for drone technology was clearly felt during Operation Sindoor. Such experiences demonstrate that in the future, the role of drone technology will be extremely crucial in security, disaster management, and other important areas. He appealed to the youth and technical institutions to work seriously in this direction so that India can become a leading nation in the field of drone technology.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that platforms like tech fairs provide opportunities for young people to develop innovation, creativity, and leadership skills. He said that the Himachal Pradesh government is fully committed to creating a robust digital ecosystem.
Mr. Agnihotri said that until a few years ago, it was difficult to even imagine that a prestigious institution like IIIT would be established on the soil of Una. He said that this institution was not given on a platter, but was established after a long struggle and overcoming many obstacles. Today, many children from Himachal are receiving state-of-the-art technical education here, which is a matter of pride for the state.
He appreciated the commencement of the MSc Mathematics course at the institute, saying that there was a long-standing demand for it in the region. Now, with the start of this course, local students have benefited greatly.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the new opportunities opened up by the institute for local youth will have long-term benefits for both the region and the state. He said that the exchange of technology, knowledge, and research is a strong foundation for a developed India. He expressed his pleasure that IIIT Una is undertaking a special initiative for the skill development of approximately one thousand young people in the Una-Haroli region, at a cost of approximately one crore rupees. He expressed his expectation that this initiative would be visible on the ground and results-oriented.
Referring to the development work in the region, the Deputy Chief Minister said that this area, which once faced water scarcity, is now being empowered with irrigation facilities. Farmers are cultivating cash crops, and there has been significant improvement in education, roads, and infrastructure.
He informed that a Bulk Drug Park is being established in Haroli at a cost of over Rs. 2,000 crore, which is one of the three bulk drug parks in the country. The tendering process for this has been completed. In addition, a tool room is being constructed in Bathu at a cost of Rs. 18 crore and a technology park in Pandoga at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.
Exchange of three important MoUs
During the program, in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister, three important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged by IIIT Una with the aim of strengthening academic and research collaboration. These MoUs were signed with CSIR CSIO Chandigarh, Sardar Beant Singh State University Gurdaspur, and Siddhartha Institute of Engineering and Technology Hyderabad. These agreements will create new opportunities for joint research, academic exchange, skill development, and innovation.
The Deputy Chief Minister presented awards to the winners of the institute's sports event 'Yalgaar', cultural competitions, and innovation competitions. He then visited the Innovation Expo and appreciated the innovative projects presented by the students. He also planted a banyan tree on the campus.
Speaking at the event, Professor Hiralal Muralidhar Suryavanshi, Director of the National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, said that strengthening indigenous technology is essential for a self-reliant India. He urged the students to become job providers instead of job seekers, to learn from failures, and to develop creativity and self-confidence. Professor Shantanu Bhattacharya, Director of CSIR-CSIO, described Meraki as a platform for young minds, emphasizing innovative thinking, MSME solutions, and the lab-to-product model.
Dr. Sushendra Kumar Mishra, Vice-Chancellor of Sardar Beant Singh State University, urged the youth to venture into startups and entrepreneurship and contribute to building a self-reliant India by 2047.
Professor Manish Gaur, Director of IIIT Una, welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and other guests. He stated that, in line with the Deputy Chief Minister's expectations, the institute's doors are being opened more widely to the youth of the Haroli region. He said that a target of connecting approximately one thousand young people with skill development programs has been set, and administrative approval has been received. He added that IIIT Una is developing into a laboratory of innovation and new ideas in the country.
Meraki coordinator Dr. Tanu Wadhera presented the program's outline, while Dr. Bhamati Das provided information about the content of the magazine Pragati Parimal. Present on the occasion were Congress leaders Ranjit Rana and Ashok Thakur, professors from the institute, students and teachers from various schools, and other dignitaries.