By IANS,
New Delhi: The shortcomings in infrastructure of schools has culminated in “huge social violence” in the tribal areas of the country, said Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh here Monday.
“Huge social violence in central India’s tribal area is the result of poor infrastructure facilities in school. The problem is not absenteeism of students but lack of teachers in the school,” Ramesh said at the Future of Education Summit 2011 here.
Stressing the need to spread quality education in the country, the minister said: “We must provide better infrastructure for good education. And there is a need to empower our population.”
The minister expressed dismay at the fact that 60 percent of the open defecation in the world occurs in India.
“It’s ironical that this country has more mobile than toilets and even as those who have toilets go out and relieve themselves in open. This is the result of lack of awareness among people which can only be spread through better education,” Ramesh said while addressing the gathering of education experts.
Asked about the commercialisation of education by one of the summit participants, the minister said: “Business in education is inevitable as the government cannot provide quality education everywhere.”