Protect image of education: Kalam

President asks political parties to spell out vision for 2020

President APJ Abdul Kalam lent his voice to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) by asking the government to protect the brand image of Indian higher education.

He also asked the government to ensure a tamper-free examination system, create an affordable interest rate regime for small, medium and agro processing industry and introduce entrepreneurship education in schools and colleges.

Distancing himself from the government's attempt to dictate terms to the IIMs and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and siding with the IIMs, which had appealed to the government not to hurt the "brand image" of these institutions by insisting that they accept funds from the government, the President said India also needed to be a nation where education was not denied to any meritorious candidate because of social or economic discrimination.

President Kalam was addressing the nation on the eve of the 55th Republic Day.

The President said in the context of general elections in 2004, all political parties needed to have a section in their manifestos on how they were going to realise the dream of young people: to live in a developed and corruption-free India.

Apparently in an attempt to create political consensus on central issues like development and ending corruption, he said parties required to spell out a vision for 2020 especially around these two issues.

The President said India had many challenges before it.

The government needed to devise a "national pharma vision", modernise the defence forces, treble power generation by 2020, enter the global market to sell India's space programme, review the education syllabus to prevent overloading of children, encourage civil servants to be transparent and fearless, and support farmers to bring about a second green revolution.

In an attempt to reach out to young people, the President for the first time, read out a 10-point oath for the youth of the nation.

This included teaching at least 10 people to read and write, excelling in education, planting trees, weaning away people from addictions and gambling, not supporting religious, caste and language differentiations and endeavouring to create a corruption free society.

The President had a word of praise for "peacemakers".

"Most nations have realised that low intensity proxy wars, deterrence-based build-ups and real wars are expensive detractors from the perceived visions of development. The development of society weans away its people from destructive activities of alienation, leading to celebration of peacemakers. India will always be grateful to successful peacemakers," he said, in a reference to the current Indo-Pak peace process.

He said the Indian economy had shown robust and consistent growth indicated by the 8.4 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2003-04.

India was one of the fastest growing economies in the world. These economic benefits needed to reach the rural population quickly through programmes such as the providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) and the interlinking of rivers.

The President's speech was calculated to project the image of an independent-minded, pro-people President, whose preoccupation was the development and growth of young people in particular.

Meanwhile, well-known Punjabi literature Amrita Pritam, noted astronomer Jayant Vishnu Narlikar and former Chief Justice of India MN Venkatachalliah have been selected for Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian awards.

Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly and his deputy Rahul Dravid have been honoured with Padma Shri. Noted Bengali film director and actor Soumitra Chatterjee and veteran journalist MV Kamath have been nominated for Padma Bhushan. No Bharat Ratna has been awarded this year.

Besides the three Padma Vibhushan awardees, 19 people including noted Bollywood film director Gulzar and former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori have been honoured with Padma Bhushan and 74 with Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day this year.