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R.Y. Narayanan

COIMBATORE, Feb. 23

A ROAD map for the future of India's young citizens has been laid by the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who feels that one need not lose heart over some of the countrymen seeking greener pastures abroad.

He has also voiced his support to the need to bring down the cost of education, particularly from primary to secondary education for the benefit of the masses.

The President, who had an interactive session with the school children after addressing a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, said first students should study well and work hard because hard work was behind every success.

But students themselves have a role to play in teaching, in teaching those who could not read and write. He estimated that in India, about 35 per cent-40 per cent of the population fell into this category. They were not illiterate, they had various types of traditional knowledge but only it was that they could not read and write. If the children could take up such work in areas near their residences, this would transform the country.

A girl student asked the President as to how India could achieve his vision of becoming a developed nation by 2020 when education from primary to college level has been commercialised.

She asked the President whether he would make education affordable to the poor as well. Dr Kalam said recently, a bill has been passed in Parliament-right to education, which has made education compulsory for children in the 6 years to 14 years age group. He was sure that this would bring down the cost of education.

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