Pune, Aug 11: Admitting that nearly half of the country's population was still illiterate, defence minister George Fernandes today called for creating more educational opportunities that could benefit all sections of the society. Inaugurating the new campus of Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (for defence personnel and dependents), at Khadki near here, he said, “We have to hang our head in shame to know that nearly half of the country's population is illiterate.” Fernandes said that the institute should take it as its mission to spread education to all sections of the society including the underprivileged if they want the country to prosper.
Speaking on the occasion, NCP president Sharad Pawar said that in the era of globalisation and liberalisation, the educational institutions have to gear up to meet the challenges posed by foreign institutions which are offering degrees on a platter. In these competitive times, only those institutions which maintain high standard of education will survive, he added.
The state-of-the-art campus has separate administrative and academic blocks with an air-conditioned auditorium having a sitting capacity of 450, a spacious library, a computer laboratory, conference room and other amenities.
Noted lawyer and former union minister Ram Jethmalani, founder president of Symbiosis S B Mazumdar and others were present on the occasion.

Bureau Report