Vice-President stresses on justice and education for minorities

Patna, Jun 11 (UNI) Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari today called for an egalitarian society by providing justice and education to weaker sections and the minorities who failed to get the benefits of development.

Addressing a function organised at Imarat-E-Sharia here to felicitate him, Dr Ansari who arrived here today on a two days maiden visit to Bihar, said education was the basic right of the people and the government had the constitutional obligation to ensure access to quality education for all.

Referring to the low education level in muslim community, Dr Ansari said it was unfortunately far from satisfactory and said special efforts should be made to provide educational facilities to them.

" All should not be left to the government'' he said and emphasised that there should also be a burning desire among the minorities to send their children to schools and colleges.

All sincere efforts of the government would go in vain if there was lack of determination for quest of education among the muslim community, Dr Ansari pointed out.

He also lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to improve the education scenario in the state and said a new flow of thoughts was in the air to bring back the past glory of the state in the arena of academic excellence.

"Bihar has always been among the front runner in the field of academic excellence but due to some factors it lost its edge and students aspiring for quality education are migrating to other parts of the country and abroad for higher education'', he noted and hoped the trend would get altered in coming days.

Also speaking on the occasion, Governor R S Gavai lauded the government's initiative to improve the standard of education in Bihar. The services being provided by the Imarat-E-Sharia in the field of education and health were commendable, he added.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighted the steps taken by the state government to improve the functioning of Arabic and Persian university in Bihar.

Among others union minister of state for home Shakeel Ahmad spoke.

Earlier, on his arrival, the Vice-President inaugurated the Chandra Gupta Institute of Management here, established by the Bihar government on the lines of Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad for quality management education in the state.

Tomorrow morning Dr Ansari will visit the famous Mahabodhi Temple in Boddh Gaya before leaving for New Delhi from the Gaya International Airport rounding off his two day visit to the state.

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