I was referred to as burden at my birth, reveals Smriti Irani

Revealing that at the time of her birth, she was cursed as a "burden" by someone, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said that curbing the menace of female foeticide was a priority for the government.

"I am sharing it for the first time that when I was born, someone hinted to my mother that 'beti to bojh hoti hai'! (daughter is a burden) and therefore she should kill me. But my mother was brave and she did not do that because of which today I am standing here in front of you," Irani said when a student asked her about the menace of female foeticide.

She also thanked her mother for not getting carried away by the advice of that someone. "I am also thankful to my mother for not killing me because of such an advice," Irani said during an interaction programme with students of a school here.

Such a malpractice should be curbed and it was a priority programme for the government, the minister added.

"If you teach a girl, you are not just imparting education to a woman, but to a family that will later help in nation building," she said.

To a query on different boards and curricula in various states, Irani said the issue of uniformity in education will be addressed in the National Education Policy (NEP).

Replaying to another question, she said the government is committed to linking education with skill development to address the problem of unemployment in the country and also to make the curriculum more practical.

The NEP will be formulated after discussing the issue at national, state, regional and also international level to address all issues, she said.

She informed that the HRD ministry is also working on creating a national e-library project so that students and other citizens have access to vast knowledge bank. For the purpose, the ministry will also collaborate with international libraries.

The ministry is also focused on imparting quality training to the teachers, she said.

Replying a question, Irani said that the students from the weaker sections of the society should never think that their parents were unable to do much for them.

Citing her example, the minister said she herself was brought up in a slightly lower middle class family and because of her parents' support, she could reach this position.

Irani also cited the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sold tea and has now reached the country's top position, to inspire students.

Irani said the HRD ministry would offer scholarships to such candidates to promote them.
She also informed that they were working on National Academic Depository Project and National Innovation Campaign, and also on popularising mathematics and science streams.

Later, while addressing a meeting of Higher and Technical Education Department at the state secretariat, the minister said the like agriculture, Madhya Pradesh should create a history in the field of education as well.

"The Centre would extend all possible help to make Madhya Pradesh as the education hub in the country," she said.

The minister also advised the state government to formulate a policy for the education of students of north- eastern states of the country.

Smriti also addressed BJP workers at the state party office, laid the foundation stone of the new academic block of School of Planning and Architecture and also participated in a programme of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR).

She also laid the foundation stone for the Golden Jubilee Convention Centre of the institute on the occasion.