India would provide 50 'SAARC Silver Jubilee Scholarships': Manmohan Singh

Thimphu (Bhutan), Apr 28 (ANI): Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said India would provide 50 'SAARC Silver Jubilee Scholarships' for meritorious students from SAARC LDC countries for the South Asian University, adding that South Asia is emerging as the hub of technological innovation.

"I am happy that we are ready to begin the first academic session of the South Asian University in August 2010. India will provide 50 'SAARC Silver Jubilee Scholarships' for meritorious students from SAARC LDC countries for the South Asian University," said Dr Singh in his opening statement at the two-day XVIth SAARC Summit that began here today.

"South Asia is emerging as the hub of technological innovation. The manner in which we are able to harness technology for development will be crucial. Initiatives such as tele-medicine and tele-education are already having a profound effect on our societies," he added.There is much that we can do together and learn from one another in all these areas. Health and human resource development are perhaps the most compelling of the areas that impact on the dignity and well-being of our people," he added.

"We need to bring on the agenda issues relating to basic education, skill development, the creation of a scientific temper among youth, women's empowerment and improving the quality of nutrition," said Dr Singh.

"Mutual respect and tolerance are part of our civilisational heritage. So is the abhorrence of extremism, radicalism and terrorism. Let us pledge to revive the South Asia of our dreams that is once again a source of new ideas, new knowledge and new opportunities," he added. (ANI)