Teachers Play Big Role in Students' Life: Modi

Prime minister addresses children on the eve of the Teachers' Day in the national capital.

A wide-ranging discussion is expected on the impact of recent economic events, and how best India can take advantage of them. | (File/ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said teachers play a big role in students' life. He said teachers have a great responsibility towards shaping the future of children.

In the honour of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President and educationist, teacher and philosopher, Modi released coins of Rs. 125 and Rs. 10.

"We pay tributes to (late president) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and mark his birthday as Teachers' Day," Modi said on Friday, a day ahead of Teachers' Day.

The prime minister was addressing children at the Manekshaw Center on the eve of the Teachers' Day in the national capital.

Here are the highlights of Modi's speech:

• Sometimes people wonder why spend time with students on Teachers' Day. It is because students are teachers' identity.

• A teacher can never retire. Being a teacher is not like any other occupation. We have to stop becoming robots.

• Unfortunately politics has acquired a lot of bad name. Talented people from all walks of life are required in politics.

• My aim is to ensure 24X7 power supply across the country by 2022. 18,000 villages to be electrified in the next 1,000 days.
• Digital India is an empowerment tool. We must shift to e-governance to ensure good governance and transparency

• Everybody gets a character certificate from school. I have issued direction to replace character certificate with aptitude certificate.

The event was also attended by Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani who urged the students to chase their dreams.

Aiming at the power of dreams, Irani said, “Today, I want to ask students to dream and resolute to begin chasing them. I have great respect for the teachers who carry the seed of this resolution in their hearts.”

Following the speech, PM Modi began the much awaited interaction session with students.

(With Input from Agencies)