JOIN US“Our government will make sustained efforts for the social and economic empowerment of women. We have decided to launch a National Female Literacy Mission, through which female illiteracy will be reduced by half in the next three years,” he said in his address to the nation.
Secondary education will be expanded through a programme, which will ensure that every child in the country gets its benefit.
“A new scheme will be started to help students from the economically weaker sections of society by reducing interest rates on education loans. This will benefit about five lakh students to get technical and professional education,” Manmohan Singh said.
Terming female foeticide as a “shame” on Indian society, the prime minister said the country could not progress unless women become equal partners in growth. “It is very sad that in our society, the girl child is being killed even before being born. This is a shame on our society.
“As soon as possible, we have to remove this blot. Our progress will be incomplete until women become equal partners in the growth,” he said.
To increase the use of solar energy and to make it affordable, Manmohan Singh said:“We will launch the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission on November 14, this year.”