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| Education
more important than missile: His Excellency President
of India |
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"Education is more important
than missile for the country's development" said His
Excellency Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of India
in reply to a poser by a student of Kalinga Institute of
Social Sciences (KISS) at KIIT campus here on Wednesday.
"But, at the same time, to pursue economic development
without hindrance, the borders have to be protected. In
this effort, Prithvi missile is also an important area for
India", he added, putting the two into perspective.
Dr. Kalam was speaking to 3000 tribal children of KISS,
a sister concern of KIIT, as a part of his two-day visit
to the state.
Dr. Kalam's interaction programme
with school children of KISS is a sequel to his visit to
KIIT last year. On that occasion he was impressed with KIIT's
initiative in establishing and promoting this exclusive
school for tribal children.
In reply to a question by another
student he stressed that physical, communication and knowledge
connectivity are crucial for improving access of tribals
to education and development. Dr. Kalam, also a scientist
and teacher par excellence, gave them his mantra for extraordinary
achievement in life. He urged the children of Kalinga to
take lead in spreading the message of peace and non-violence
in present day strife torn world. The President also had
a brief discussion with the teachers of KISS.
KISS not only provides free living
and education to tribals, but also imparts vocational training
and teaches them the important values of life inorder to
help them join the national mainstream, said Dr. A. Samanta,
Founder Secretary of KISS and KIIT, in his welcome address.
It draws inspiration from Late Biju Patnaik's dream of having
an institute for tribals with facilities for teaching from
KG to PG Level, he informed.
Established in 1993 as a Residential
Primary School for tribal children with a mere strength
of 125, the school presently provides free living and education
from primary to higher secondary level for 3000 tribal children
of poor families belonging to 28 tribes from 26 districts
of Odisha. In recent years students of this school have
shown commendable performance both in academics and extra
curricular activities. Just last fortnight KISS was in news
when its team led by Manoj Kumar Marandi got selected for
the National Children's Science Congress at the state level
meet to be held at Gangtok later this year, pipping students
from several reputed schools from all over the state and
winning a flurry of accolades on the way. Last year Manoj
Kumar Garada, a student of KISS, had topped the state-level
NCSC meet.
His Excellency the Governor
of Odisha, Shri Rameshwar Thakur, Hon'ble Chief Minister
of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon'ble Minister of Industries,
Law and R.D., Odisha, Shri B. B. Harichandan and Hon'ble,
Member of Parliament, Bhubaneswar, Dr. P. K. Patasani were
present on the occasion. Smt. Saswati Bal, President of
KISS & KIIT, proposed the vote of thanks
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