Kalam urges value-based education to rural children

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today exhorted corporate and industrial houses to reach out to children in rural and semi-urban India.

For this, he said to adopt schools and provide infrastructure in the form of clean drinking water, toilet and transportation facilities for children, equip the sport complexes and provide computing facilities for technology-assisted learning.

''We need creative leaders who can exercise the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect,'' Dr Kalam said while addressing the Businessworld-FICCI-SEDF Corporate Social Responsibility Awards function here.

Dr Kalam urged corporate houses to arrange special lectures for children so that they can imbibe value-based education.

''This type of support to government schools and private schools will improve the quality of education to the children in the rural and semi-urban areas, leading to development of enlightened citizens,'' he pointed out.

During the function, President gave the Businessworld-FICCI-SEDF Corporate Social Responsibility awards to four public sector and three private sector companies.

The top Corporate Citizen Award was bagged by the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), followed by Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd (NLC) and Tata Chemicals Ltd.

While Zensar Technologies Ltd received the Jury's Special Commendation Award, certificates of appreciation were awarded to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), HSBC Ltd and Hindustan Zinc Ltd.

UNI