A high level Panel Discussion on Making Sustainability a Reality: from Policy to Successful Practice was hosted at the Amritapuri campus of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham on September 25, 2016. 

Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham delivered the presidential address wherein he enumerated the various missions that have been undertaken for making sustainability a reality. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is among the very few universities which follow a multi disciplinary approach, rather than a narrow-lane approach.

Dr. Thomas Isaac, Finance Minister, Kerala, delivered the inaugural address. He said that that we should implement such sustainable projects with deep involvement of people as the chances of them succeeding is greater. He complimented the Amrita for leading the sustainability initiatives in various for and facilitating such events.

The Finance Minister launched the Amrita Vasudha initiative and gave away souvenirs to Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham champions who are championing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in various campuses.

Delivering the special address, Smt. Sunita Sanghi, Advisor, NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), informed that India is a signatory of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Earlier, Smt. Sanghi stated that she was particularly impressed with the wide variety of work done in the area of Women Empowerment. She was happy to know the numerous initiatives that Amrita was undertaking to facilitate impoverished women to learn relevant skills, which they could utilize in their own environments, creating empowerment through employment. She is confident that institutions like Amrita could go a long way in these noble missions.