Pranab calls for strong primary education to boost higher learning

President Pranab Mukherjee has called for strengthening primary and secondary education to build a strong system of higher learning in the country.

“India will be the only country in the world to have maximum youngsters by 2030. There will be more demand for Indian youngsters all over the world for various works. Indian youngsters need to be skilled, talented and competent to handle the works. Higher education will be able to convert youngsters into a skilled force only if qualitative education is imparted at elementary, primary and secondary levels,” Mukherjee said at a ceremony to commemorate Akshaya Patra Foundation’s achievement of serving of two billion meals in government schools in 10 states of the country. The event was organised by Iskcon Bengaluru at Iskcon temple on Saturday.

“There are a lot of inadequacies in India due to its social structure. Children’s hunger remains a major challenge at elementary, primary and secondary levels. Hence, every effort should be made to eradicate hunger at these levels and attract children to schools. Education should be imparted to every child to get benefit of demographic dividend,” he said.

“The Akshaya Patra Foundation of ISKCON, Bengaluru, has played a vital role in eradicating hunger of many school-going children. Such commendable jobs should be supported so that the Constitutional spirit of universal educations is realised,” the President added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed Akshaya Patra a great social undertaking. “The Karnataka government was inspired by Akshaya Patra to launch Akshara Dasoha, a mid-day meal scheme. The literacy rate in Karnataka was 66.64 % in 2001. It went up to 75.60 % in 2011. Many children were enrolled for primary education in economically backward districts. Akshaya Patra and Akshara Dasoha schemes not only ensured better literacy rate, but also reduced gender disparity in schools,” he said.

Governor Vajubhai Vala called upon well-off people to adopt government schools.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda, former minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty and Akshaya Patra Foundation Chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa were also present.