Rahul makes maiden speech on Budget in LS

New Delhi, Mar 9 (UNI) Delivering his maiden speech on the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Mr Rahul Gandhi (Cong) today sought a thorough overhaul of the educational system in the country to remove the mismatch between the skills being imparted in schools and colleges and the market demand and improve employment opportunities.

Applauded by his sister Priyanka, seated in the Speaker's gallery along with her husband, Robert Vadra, and his mother and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was present in her seat, Mr Gandhi said the government should ensure that no boy or girl is deprived of higher education for paucity of financial resources.

Citing an example to drive home his contention that education was no guarantee for a job, he said a student he had met in the North-East was a University topper but was without a job.

The only other occasion when the Amethi MP and the scion of the Gandhi family had spoken in the Lok Sabha, since his election in the April/May election to the 14th Lok Sabha, was during the last winter session. He had then demanded, in the form of a special mention, speedy clearance of the arrears of sugarcane farmers.

In his brief five-minute speech, which was received by treasury bench members with frequent thumping of desks, Mr Gandhi said the education system should not be judged by the number of graduates churned out by various universities, but by the percentage of such students succeeding to get jobs.

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