PRIME MINISTER INAUGURATES JHARKHAND’S
RURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING
The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
inaugurated today a unique rural education programme, launched
by the Government of Jharkhand, with a view to spread education
in the remote rural areas of the State.
It was a unique event as the villagers and the
school children of village Konjhari situated near Ranchi-over
a thousand kilometre away from Delhi-could interact directly with
the Prime Minister. They were led by the Chief Minister of Jharkhand
Shri Babu Lal Marandi, his Cabinet colleagues, local MP and MLA
and other senior officers of the State.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Vajpayee said that
the programme is an important beginning towards realizing the
dream of education for all in a shortest possible time. The Prime
Minister complemented Shri Marandi and his Government for launching
this innovative programme.
Earlier, in his welcome address Shri Marandi
said that Jharkhand has remained backward as there are no schools
in as many as 7255 villages of the State. Under the scheme all
those villages which do not have a school within a radius of one
kilometer and have more than 15 children desirous of getting education
will be allowed to open a school within the village itself and
any person of the village or nearby area who has done atleast
matric will be appointed as teacher in the school. He/She will
be given an honorarium varying between Rs.1000/- to Rs.2000/-
per month. Konjhari in the Ranchi district is one such village
having the first school of this type.
The children of the school recited songs and
also asked a few questions from the Prime Minister besides inviting
him to visit their village at the earliest.
