Every single child should have access to modern education: PM

New Delhi, Aug 15 : Speaking on the occasion of 62nd Independence Day, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said the benefits of modern knowledge should flow to all sections of society.

Describing the Eleventh Five Year Plan as a "National Education Plan", Dr.Singh said: "We want every section of our society to get access to education. Every child belonging to a family of SC, ST, OBC and all Minorities, every single child, boy or girl, must have access to modern education."

India will be transformed only when every Indian is literate, well fed, healthy and can secure gainful employment. About 14 crore children are being provided mid-day meals under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, he further added.

Stressing that his Government has been paying special attention to the development of education in the country, Dr. Singh said: "we are establishing 6000 new high quality model schools, with at least one school in each block. I want to see a modern India, imbued by a scientific temper, where the benefits of modern knowledge flow to all sections of society."

He said, "As someone who started his professional life as a teacher, I feel proud to say that our Government has been giving special attention to the development of education in our country," adding that as many as 373 new colleges are being opened in backward districts besides 30 new universities, eight new IITs, seven new IIMs, 20 new IIITs, five new Indian Institutes of Science, two schools of Planning and Architecture, 10 NITs, and a 1000 new polytechnics."

Wanting to see a modern India imbued by a scientific temper, the Prime Minister hoped to send the Indian spacecraft -- "Chandrayan" -- to the moon this year. And added that it would be an important milestone in the development of our space programme."

Promising to continue striving for the development and prosperity of the country, Dr. Singh assured that we wold work hard to take the country to greater heights in all fields.

ANI