In a unique initiative, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today honoured Parliamentarians who have been in the teaching profession or associated with the field of education on the occasion of 'Guru Poornima'.
Speaking at the event, he said while sometimes a wrong image of Parliament gets projected, it is actually filled with luminaries of various fields, be it education, medicine or other professions. Several MPs are highly educated, he said.
He said there are around 50 MPs who have contributed to the field of teaching.
The event was held at the Parliament House complex and those felicitated were given a 'Tulsi' plant and a CD containing Gandhiji's works.
Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien, Union minister Jitendra Singh, Congress MP Karan Singh, former ministers K V Thomas, Saugato Roy (TMC) and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy were among the MPs who were felicitated.
Javadekar said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also expected to attend the event but could not do so because he was unwell.
BJP MP Satyanarain Jatiya chanted Sanskrit shlokas and Karan Singh conveyed his wishes to the new HRD minister.
Among other MPs who were felicitated were senior Congress leaders Janardhan Dwivedi and Bhubaneswar Kalita, Ram Gopal Yadav of SP and Prem Singh Chandumajra of Akali Dal.
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Meanwhile, speaking at a function organised in Ruia College, Javadekar said education is fundamental to bringing social change in the society.
Active participation of the society was also essential for ensuring education for all, he said.
"You can not entrust the entire responsibility to government alone" he said.
Education policy should be contemporary and address the aspirations of the new generations, Javadekar said.
The government was giving final touches to the New Education Policy which will lay thrust on quality education for all, he said.
He welcomed suggestions on the draft education policy, stating that the deadline for comments on the draft has been extended till September 15, 2016.
The minister expressed concern that there were 20 lakh vacancies of teachers at various levels from primary schools to IITs.
He asked students to consider teaching as an honourable career option, not confining themselves to engineering and medical fields.
Javadekar handed over financial assistance to meritorious poor students who had scored high marks in SSC examination of Maharashtra Board, fighting against all odds.
The initiative of financially supporting deserving poor students was part of the 'MaTa Helpline' project of Maharashtra Times.
The leading Marathi Daily had published individual success stories and invited its readers to come forward and help deserving students. The minister thanked the readers who had responded with enthusiasm.
