Prez stresses home importance of empowering women

Chennai, Feb 23 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today again proved that he is an ''instant hit'' with students during his visit to a well known women's college here highlighting the importance of empowerment of women.

The President who delivered the convocation address at the 91 year-old Women's Christian College here, interacted directly with some students before leaving the auditorium.

''How many marks did you score in your last examinations'', Kalam asked one girl. ''What are your subjects'', he queried another.

He also answered a few queries before taking leave smilingly.

Earlier, during his convocation speech, the President hailed the college for striving to empower women through a variety of subjects especially voctional courses in biotechnology and microbiology it offered for study.

Dr Kalam praised the college for establishing academic tie ups with a few global and other leading Indian institutions.

The President also appealed to the students to opt for joint family instead of a nuclear family. '' It offers both joys and sorrows and your children will gain from this from the viewpoint of balanced developemnt'', he said.

The President, also administered an oath to the students first in Tamil on the importance of discipline so that women could become morally upright and intellectually strong in their role for striving to make India a fully Developed nation by 2020.

He said as he learnt during his interaction with the (woman) President of Finland who visited India recently, the secret of raising India's status in global competitiveness, education was the main prerequisite.

''The Finnish President gave me three reasons for her country being consistently at the top in global competitiveness. And it was education, education, education'', he recalled amidst thunderous applause from the students.

The President rounded up his convocation speech administering to students a seven point oath of striving to achieve success and enjoy the success of others, maintain personal and environmental cleanliness, realise righteousness in heart and beauty in character, lead an honest life without corruption and do whatever work to the best to make India a developed nation.

UNI