Kolkata: Over 300 engineering students from across the country converged in Kolkata on Saturday to participate in the 'Smart India Hackathon 2017', a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Hackathon, the name derived from marathon, will be a pan-India programme where the participating teams from different institutions will be taking part in a video conference with the prime minister from across six centres in the country, AICTE Vice-Chairman M P Poonia told a press meet here.Also Read: PM Modi Bats for IT to Solve Problems at Smart India Hackathon
PM Modi interacts with youngsters from different states via video conferencing in Delhi #SmartIndiaHackathon2017 pic.twitter.com/cZM8MQxPd1 — ANI (@ANI_news) April 1, 2017
There is a need to use technology more and innovate more. We live in a technology driven era: PM Modi #SmartIndiaHackathon2017 pic.twitter.com/n0Hh9lgYN3 — ANI (@ANI_news) April 1, 2017
Poonia said an estimated 40 lakh students enroll for technical education in the country every year, which is 24.5 per cent of the country's total population against 87 per cent in the US. "This gross disparity needs to be addressed" and AICTE will help towards spotting talents that can be used for betterment of society.
About 30 government departments/ministries are involved as partners in the exercise, directly engaging with students.
"The Hackathon will enable us to discuss rural health sector problems in the country ,including the possibility of death of stroke patients due to logistical problems and how it can be solved digitally," an IIT-Kharagpur PG student said at the Kolkata.
A girl student from Goa University, working at the centre said "I will point out the low figure of girls in the mechanical engineering stream and also the need of proper sanitation facilities for girls in rural areas.
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