The Dakshin Dialogues Conclave has consistently served as a platform for addressing key concerns of South India, while also bringing national attention to the region’s unique issues.
Published Oct 06, 2024 | 12:53 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 07, 2024 | 6:14 PM
Tamil Nadu Minister P Thiaga Rajan inaugurating South First's Dakshin Dialogues 2024 along with founder and CEO GS Vasu and Cyient Chairman BVR Mohan Reddy.
The third annual Dakshin Dialogues conclave of South First titled “People & Technology: Governance for Tomorrow”, was held on Saturday, 5 October, in Hyderabad, emphasising the crucial partnership between governments, academia and industry.
Dakshin Dialogues 2024 aimed to act as a force to spur thought leaders to take technology forward for the betterment of society and how Artificial intelligence (AI), a double-edged tool, could become the leader in this transformational journey.
The Dakshin Dialogues conclave has consistently served as a platform to address key concerns of South India, while also bringing national attention to the region’s unique issues.
Cyient Founder Chairman BVR Mohan Reddy delivered a compelling welcome address, advocating for enhanced collaboration to ensure that advancements in technology, particularly AI, are effectively harnessed for societal benefit.
Reddy stressed the importance of continuous skill upgrades for teachers to better prepare students for the evolving job market. He argued that rote learning is outdated and that today’s students require educators who are well-versed in the latest technological trends.
“The right teacher is more important than the right student,” he noted, calling for a paradigm shift in educational approaches to match industry demands.
“The southern states that are doing so well can collaborate to further this cause. By learning best practices from each other, we can ensure mutual benefits and improve global standards.” — @BVRMohanReddy, Founder Chairman of @Cyient.
Don’t miss his insights at… pic.twitter.com/I3gjitLZAK
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 5, 2024
The panel discussion on “Skill Gap and Employability” featured prominent speakers including Sharath Bachegowda, Congress MLA and KEONICS Chairman, and Professor PJ Narayanan, Director of International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad.
They highlighted the widening chasm between the skills needed by modern industries and the preparedness of India’s workforce, emphasising the need for a more interdisciplinary educational framework.
Bachegowda, with his engineering experience in Switzerland, highlighted the significant mismatch between job opportunities and available talent.
“Despite thousands of job seekers registering at a recent job fair, only a small fraction could be placed,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for an interdisciplinary approach to education.
He emphasised the importance of blending technology with fields like liberal arts and commerce, reflecting the interconnectedness of today’s industries and the need for a more versatile workforce.
#DakshinDialogues2024: ‘India needs A-grade technicians at the bottom of the pyramid’, said KEONICS chairman & MLA @SBG4Hosakote.
We will need to focus on skilling, reskilling, unlearning, & relearning.https://t.co/dZwRz9EFy6
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 6, 2024
Tamil Nadu’s Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, called for more interstate dialogues to enhance regional cooperation among Southern states.
Speaking on the topic of “People and Technology – Governance for Tomorrow,” he advocated for a dedicated forum to facilitate discussions focused on education, technology, and development.
“We need more state-to-state dialogue, especially in the South, to serve as a model for the rest of the country,” Rajan asserted, pointing out the lack of a platform for such critical conversations.
#DakshinDialogues2024: @ptrmadurai emphasizes the need for deeper collaboration among southern states to achieve shared goals in education, tech, & more, urging the South to serve as a model for India.https://t.co/ypJk6VQyBT
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 5, 2024
Kerala Industries and Law Minister P Rajeev announced the state’s goal to achieve full digital literacy by November 2024.
In a discussion on Kerala’s digital strategies, Rajeev explained how initiatives like the Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON) aim to provide high-speed internet access to all households, promoting e-governance and a knowledge-based economy.
“We are leveraging AI for better governance and citizen interaction,” Rajeev stated, underscoring the state’s commitment to bridging the digital divide.
During #DakshinDialogues, @PRajeevOfficial highlighted the #Kerala‘s efforts to become the first in #India to attain full digital literacy. https://t.co/mTEaI0hgfQ
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 5, 2024
Telangana’s Information Technology and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu discussed the state’s ambitious goal of transforming into a $1 trillion economy within the next decade.
He highlighted the role of AI in this transformation and the importance of collaboration with Southern states to optimise technology usage for economic growth.
The minister said that as Telangana embarked on its journey towards the goal, it intends to leverage technology which has now become all-pervasive. As disruptions take place in the evolution of technology the Telangana government is acting accordingly to benefit from it.
He said it was heartening to note that there was healthy competition among the southern states. “We are visualising a technology corridor between Telangana and Karnataka which have emerged as major hubs of Information Technology,” the minister said.
#DakshinDialogues2024: Sridhar Babu says #Telangana to leverage AI to reach USD1 trillion economy@Min_SridharBabu said that the state government is developing #Hyderabad as a global AI capital.https://t.co/f8TSmiTHH7
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 6, 2024
Dakshin Dialogues 2024 was presented by KarPing in association with Governments of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka along with Ichor Biologics, Start up Karnataka, ELCOT, K-Tech with IIIT-Hyderabad as knowledge partners.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
