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            I, therefore, request the Government and the Ministers who are present here to take note of these things and then bring this revolutionary change in the system of education and make education free, compulsory and uniform.
 
PROF. M. RAMADASS (PONDICHERRY): Madam Chairman, at the outset I support this Resolution moved by Shri Ram Kripal Yadav urging the Government to take effective steps to provide free, compulsory and uniform education  up to higher secondary level in the country.
MADAM CHAIRMAN : The time allotted for this Resolution is over.  I have two more hon. Members to speak on this subject and then the reply of the hon. Minister.
            If the House agrees, we can extend the time by another 45 minutes.
SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: Yes.
MADAM CHAIRMAN: Okay.[MSOffice69]                         17.00 hrs. PROF. M. RAMADASS : So, Madam, why it is to be made free because India, as Shri K.S. Rao has said, even today lives in poverty.  What was the poverty situation at that point of time?   At least today, they say that it is 25 per cent of people who are below the poverty line and in those days, seventy five per cent of people were below the poverty line.   At that point of time, people did not realize the imperative need for education.  Secondly, they did not have the resources to fall back upon and also to send the children to schools by paying prescribed fees. Therefore, in a situation of acute poverty, expecting the people to educate themselves or their children and when they were not understanding the crucial importance of education as an economic input, the Government had to provide this free education.  This free education has to be given as long as there is poverty and as long as the purchasing power of the people is not sufficient enough.  It is not only free education; to motivate the people, many of the State Governments have taken up noble measures which are sometimes criticised as populist measures. For example, our Union Territory Administration gives everything freely to the students who are coming to the schools. We are having free mid-day meal scheme. We are giving free uniforms to the students.  We are providing free chappels to the students who are coming to the schools. We have a morning breakfast scheme.  We provide coffee to the students in the evening.  So, except the night dinner, everything is provided by our Union Territory Administration to attract the students. 

SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): He is a Ph.D. PROF. M. RAMADASS : Of course he is not unemployed. I was mentioning about Ph.D scholars who are unemployed or working as Elementary School Teachers. I have all respects for Mr. K.S. Rao, more than a doctorate would command respect.[R73]  [r74] Dr. K.S. Rao is an enlightened Member.

            Therefore, we have to bridge these gaps in literacy levels, gaps in educational advancement, achievements and accomplishments and the only way to do is to provide free and compulsory education.

PROF. M. RAMADASS : Yes, we are responsible, the policy makers, including you and me and the Government.  Therefore, it is high time that we should bring a uniform system of education.  Of course, in a very large and diverse society like ours with 18 languages, with different cultures, with different modes, it would be very difficult to bring exactly a uniform system of education in this country.[r75]              But at least we should move towards a reasonable uniformity.  At least within a State, we should be able to ensure uniform education. Inter-State similarity and inter-State dissimilarity should be smaller, should be kept at the lowest level, and we should be able to do a great service in that way only.