Bill soon for councils in higher education, health: PM

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday said a bill will be brought soon in parliament to set up two separate councils in higher education and health to accelerate eforms in these areas.

In his Independence Day speech, Manmohan Singh said the country had been giving special attention to education and health since he became the prime minister in 2004.

“Improvement in these two areas is an important component of our strategy for inclusive growth. It is also necessary for higher economic growth in the years to come,” he said.

He said these two areas could not get the importance they deserved after India became independent in 1947.

“We tried to change this state of affairs in the 11th Plan. Today, almost every child in our country has access to primary education. Now, we need to pay more attention to secondary and higher education. We also need to improve the quality of education at all levels,” he said.

“It is our endeavour that every child, irrespective of whether he is rich or poor and which section of the society he belongs to, should be given an education that enables him to realise his potential and makes him a responsible citizen of our country,” he added.