KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed his concern over villages turning ’empty’ due to rampant migration to urban areas.

In his address to a function marking the 65th anniversary of Thamel-based Saraswoti Multiple Campus today, the Head of the State urged one and all to seek ways to address the situation.

He said villages face depopulation despite advancements in education, communications, road, health and electricity sectors after the advent of democracy.

Villages experience a population decline to consume the benefits of developments, according to the President.

Stressing that education system of any nation should be determined by given socio-economic situation and other needs, the President advised authorities to formulate education policies and programs capable of producing globally competitive human resources.

“Combined efforts are necessary towards this end and academic institutions should take its initiations.”

He urged policymakers and relevant authorities to concentrate on finding solutions to address the issue and highlighted the need of promoting job opportunities and vocational education to prevent the widespread migrations of youths in search of careers abroad.

He said he was pleased to be part of the anniversary celebrations of the campus carrying a history of 65 years.

The President who was once a student of this college said he had given his fertile time to the movement for democracy as the college student.

According to him, the college atmosphere had played a role to further enhance his political awakening and thus his political career.