Advani stresses on educating girls

Bhopal, Oct 5 (UNI) Stressing on encouraging education of girls, senior BJP leader L K Advani today issued a clarion call to the young generation to firmly resolve that it would utilise knowledge in achieving excellence.

''Education's true meaning lies in bestowing knowledge, developing sentiments and instilling patriotism in children,'' he said while inaugurating a building in the silver jubilee year of a privately-run educational institution here.

Among those present were Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP state president Satyanarayan Jatia, Finance Minister Raghavji, Industry Minister Babulal Gaur and MP Kailash Joshi.

Expressing regret over the irony that India was not numero uno in the world despite being replete with talent, Mr Advani said the main reason for the state of affairs was constant neglect of the education and health sectors.

''Gujarat has made laudable attempts towards ensuring education for girls and preventing dropout. The Madhya Pradesh government should also initiate some unique initiative in the sector. The Chief Minister (Narendra Modi) and his ministerial colleagues personally take stock of the situation in villages,'' he said.

Mr Advani felt that such experiments ought to be on countrywide basis for bringing about a revolution in the health and education sectors.

Referring to information technology, he said, ''India's talents are enhancing the nation's pride through their toil in foreign lands but the need of the hour is to create a proper environment through schooling.'' Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's publicising education of girls, Mr Advani said expansion of female literacy would benefit the entire family.

''If the government modifies syllabi, it is accused of saffronising education. In the face of adverse circumstances, Sadhu Vaswani encouraged education of girls through the Mira Movement,'' the BJP bigwig said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chouhan said dissemination of education could not be a complete success unless the private sector pitched in with the government.

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