India committed to build bright future of over 33 crore students: HRD Minister addresses 40th UNESCO General Conference

New Delhi, November 16: “Spreading the great idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ all over the world, India has prayed for the welfare of the entire humanity by accepting the hypothesis of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Survey Santu Niramaya," said Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank while addressing the 40th UNESCO General Conference yesterday in Paris. 

 

The HRD Minister said that the motto of India is ‘Collective efforts, for growth of all, with everyone's trust’ as it was mentioned by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, at the 74thConference of the United Nations General Assembly.

“India to be committed in building a bright future of more than 33 crore students. There are more than 1000 universities and more than 45000 degree colleges in India and is the country with the largest number of young population. India has been playing a positive and constructive role to carry forward the UNESCO’s mission and realize our common objectives,” The Minister said.

 

The Minister further added that India is highly determined to make higher education qualitative and affordable. Through Swayam portal, we are trying to provide free online education not only to Indian students but also to foreign students. In India, already 12.3 million students are taking online education under the Swayam portal. We are also providing free online education through E-VidyaBharati and Arogyabharati, through Swayam Prabha, DTH Channel. He also informed that we have already entered in to an agreement with African Countries for providing the same at free of cost.

 

UN has declared this year as ‘International Year of Indigenous Languages’. The Minister said that there are more than 2000 indigenous languages in India and India is committed to preserving and strengthening Hindi, Sanskrit and all other Indian languages and their script.