Kanpur, Oct 01: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the debate whether the country should promote primary education or higher education was settled and both should be promoted because they were critical for nation's all-round and speedy development. His remarks came while speaking after inaugurating the new building of the Department of Biological Sciences and Bio-Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), which was built by the funds made available by Union Minister of Disinvestment Arun Shourie under the MPLAD scheme.
He said Shourie had approached him with the idea that he would like to give all the MPLAD funds to a centre of excellence for higher education in Uttar Pradesh. "Some people told me that Shourie's idea was politically incorrect. MPs usually give funds for improving the amenities in a primary school or a hospital, widening of roads, constructing a community centre or for some such standard purpose," he said.
"What will be the public reaction to an MP from this state donating his entire 12 crore rupees to an IIT, I thought," the Prime Minister said. "But when Shourie explained to me the thinking behind his gesture I was quickly convinced that he is doing the right thing," Vajpayee added. Bureau Report