Modi stresses on girl child education

Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed on the need for women’s empowerment in the present-day world.

Modi, who was addressing students of Sacred Hearts University in Tokyo, said he has always given prime importance to girl child education.

“As Gujarat’s chief minister, I dedicated myself to help educate the girl child in the state,” Modi said in a tweet posted on the PMO twitter account.

The Indian prime minister, who is on a five-day visit to Japan, added that he spent $180 million for girl child education.

He also noted that the Indian constitution framework seeks to integrate women in the decision making process.

“Our current cabinet has 25 per cent women, even our external affairs minister is a woman,” he said.

Responding to questions from students after his address, Modi said that commitment to peace and non-violence is “ingrained in the DNA of the Indian society”.

In response to a question on how India could enhance the confidence of the international community as a non-NPT state, he said this commitment to peace that was intrinsic to Indian society, has “significance far above any international treaties or processes”.

“India is the land of Lord Buddha, who lived for peace, and spread the message of peace across the world...India had won its freedom through non-violent means,” Modi said.

He added that for thousands of years, India has believed in the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the whole world is our family).

“When we consider the whole world as our family, how can we even think of doing anything that would harm or hurt anyone,” Modi said.

Responding to another question, Modi called for India and Japan to focus on shared values of democracy, development, and peace, saying this effort would be similar to lighting a lamp in the dark.