New Delhi/Agartala, June 13 ( TIWN / IANS): The 31 teachers' from central universities across India who participated in an in-residence programme of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday described their experience as "enriching" and "fulfilling".

The teachers, who were finalised after a collective selection process, said the programme also helped them gain recognition and made them understand their duty towards the society.

"For us social interactions are less. And after this programme, we realised about our social responsibilities," Barin Kumar De, physics professor at the Tripura University told IANS.

Referring to "Samagam", a community initiative for senior citizens residing in the president's estate, he said that it offered them an opportunity to get together on a daily basis and have free health check-ups and participate in recreation activities.

President Pranab Mukherjee, who was called on by the teachers on Thursday described an inspired teacher as a "value-oriented, mission-driven, self-motivated and result-oriented individual who works towards impacting the environment in a positive manner through his own actions as well as by imparting knowledge amongst students to help them achieve their potential".

The teachers, who stayed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from June 6 to 12, got to interact with the president, Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani, Chairman of the University Grants Commission Ved Prakash and Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, Arvind Panagariya among others.

Summing up his experience, G. Janardhana Reddy, professor at the central university of Kerala told IANS: "With this programme, we will create many inspired teachers in the country."

The in-residence programme for teachers was announced by the president of India at the Annual Conference of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities on February 5. 

Similar programmes exist for writers, artists, grassroot innovators and NIT students.