Addressing a gathering after distributing 'Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award' here, Patil said modern and latest technology should be used to ensure that every citizen gets his fundamental right to education.
"Anyone willing to start an educational institution should be allowed to do so and modern technology such as satellites and transponders should be used for this purpose. The only condition should be to reserve 30 per cent seats for the poor people," he said.
Recalling that the concept of distance learning was introduced by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Patil said, "Rajiv used to say that education should start with the birth of a child and should end only with the death of a person."
Patil also told the gathering how Rajiv implemented the decision for lowering the age limit for voting from 21 to 18 years even though it was opposed by several senior politicians at that time.
"I am one of those people who had the privilege of working with Rajiv Gandhi. One of his biggest contributions to the nation was to lower age limit to cast vote and he did even though there was a stiff opposition against it," he said.
Patil distributed the awards to people from several fields of excellence. Former Vice-Chief of Indian Army Lt Gen A S Lamba and fashion designer Sanjana Jon were among some of the awardees.