Domkal (West Bengal): Calling for focusing on women’s education, President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday asserted that by 2030, India will have an edge over other countries in supplying skilled manpower to the world.
In an address after inaugurating a new building of the Domkal Girls’ College at Domkal in Murshidabad district, the president, emphasising on the necessity of women’s education, said an educated girl plays an active role in the socio-economic development of the country.
He also stressed on the importance of quality education starting from primary to post graduate level, saying it would enable local boys and girls take maximum advantage of the premier educational institutions.
Mukherjee said by 2030, one fifth of the world’s total work force would be in India. With the average age of an Indian being less than that in countries like China, US and Britain, India will have an edge over other countries in supplying skilled man power to the world by that time, he said.
The President also called for making efforts to train and skill 50 crore people by 2025 as envisaged by National Skill Development Scheme.
He later inaugurated the 6th edition of Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee Rural Football Tournament, named after his father, at Raghunathganj in the district. Mukherjee, who witnessed an exhibition match between Eastern Railway Sport Club and Bhawanipur Club, noted the popularity of football especially in rural areas.
The president, who is a two-day visit to West Bengal, will today be inaugurating the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) at Shibpur in Howrah district, before returning to the national capital.
IANS
Central hospitals under scanner: Health Minister
New Delhi: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said yesterday that all systems in India’s central hospitals have been placed under critical review to end “systemic and symptomatic” corruption.
“In my first 90 days in office, hardly a day has passed without inquiring into the transparency of the ministry and its outposts. Very soon, the results are going to be in the public domain,” Harsh Vardhan said in a statement.
“There are many aspects to corruption in hospitals which as a medico I know exist. If money is made in the allocation of beds or as kickbacks from suppliers, it is sleaze. What is equally corrupt is the silent practice of reserving beds and facilities for employees or VIPs. I intend rectifying both these forms of corruption,” he said.
The minister said that shortly after assuming office, he has personally inspected all central hospitals in New Delhi including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He also visited four of the six new AIIMS and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences to suggest new ways to improve their services.
“I had stated on my first day in office that I will impose 500 percent transparency and adopt zero tolerance for corruption,” he added. On the controversy over the removal of vigilance officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi, the minister said: “The re-profiling of Sanjeev Chaturvedi, deputy secretary posted at AIIMS with the powers of a chief vigilance officer (CVO), has generated a storm in some quarters”.
IANS
