Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Chief Minister Raman Singh for making consistent efforts to develop education of children, especially girls, in insurgency-infested Bastar region.
On Friday evening, while the Prime Minister was addressing school children and teachers of the country through radio and television, on the occasion of Teachers Day, Anjali, a school girl from South Bastar (Dantewada) district of Chhattisgarh, asked him that the tribal regions such as Bastar have less number of educational institutes, what steps are being taken to improve the conditionIJ
In his answer to this question, Modi replied that he has visited Bastar region of Chhattisgarh several times. “Chief Minister Raman Singh deserves congratulations for taking effective steps for education of children in Bastar. His efforts to develop education facility in Bastar have drawn attention of people and educationists from all over the country,” the Prime Minister stated.
Modi further said, “Educationists across the country should learn from Dr Raman Singh’s efforts for development of education sector in Bastar. Dr Singh is paying special attention towards education of girls. The entire nation should taken inspiration from his initiatives.” The Prime Minister said that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was a champion of girl education. “Gandhiji used to say that educating a boy means educating one family but educating a girl means education of two families,” he said.
An educated girl may educate people of both her parents' house and her in-law’s house, Modi said, adding, these days, girls are excelling in each and every field whether it is education or sports. The Prime Minister appreciated Anjali’s question saying, “I am glad to know that people of Bastar region are so concerned about education”.
He further said that a girl from Bastar, the place where Naxal violence have been wrecking havoc since long, has asked such a question about education that may awaken the entire nation. Girl education is our top-most priority, he said. Generally, girls drop out after standard 3rd-4th and 5th-6th because of unavailability of toilets in schools. If only somebody would have paid attention towards this problem earlier, it would have been a different scenario by now, Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that it is necessary to construct separate toilets for boys and girls in every school. He also emphasised upon the maintenance of cleanliness and discipline in schools.