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Asserting that establishing a truly representative democracy in a country of 1.2 billion people was a major task that could not be left only to the government, Vice-President Hamid Ansari today said this task needs to begin at the school level.
Addressing a convocation ceremony here, Ansari stressed on the role of education to integrate narrow sectional interests based on caste, religion, sect, language, ethnicity and region for the larger national cause.
"In a multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic society of over 1.2 billion people, marked by severe socio-economic disparities, compounded by immense geographical diversity, establishing a truly representative democracy is major task," he said.
"Managing narrow interests based on caste, religion, sect, language, ethnicity and region, and integrating them, into what would constitute national interest, is amongst our foremost challenges," he said.
"So is ensuring the separation of powers between the three pillars of government and between the constituent units of the federation. Reconciling the limits to government powers with individual rights and duties is also essential," he said.
Creating a responsible citizenry cannot be left only to the government, he said, adding that it needs to begin at the school level. Education should reaffirm our commitment to equality amidst diversity, and promote values that foster justice, peace and tolerance in a multi-cultural society.
The Vice-President extended his felicitations to the students graduating from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVD).
