President pitches for women's education, skill development

Calling for focusing on women's education, President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday 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, emphasizing 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 Sunday be inaugurating the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) at Shibpur in Howrah district, before returning to the national capital.