Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for Technology in Education and Development was conferred to the Azim Premji Foundation by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The award was presented by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and IT, Kapil Sibal to Azim Premji at the India Habitat Center in the national capital.
This award was instituted by the University in its Silver Jubilee Year. This prize is given to an individual or an institution that has made significant contributions in education particularly educational technology, for development in developing countries across the world.
Congratulating Azim Premji, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, “This is befitting recognition to a man, perhaps the singular person in India, who has set aside one billion dollar for the cause of education in India. It is important to generate wealth through business but it is also important for business to pay back to the society.”
Sibal also announced that the Government of India is planning to launch National Teacher Education Mission in the 12th Five Year Plan as country is in dire need of quality teachers. He also assured that by next month the eagerly awaited $35 computer will be made available to every child in school.
Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, IGNOU, while congratulating Premji, said, “We are setting the best quality benchmark by conferring it to Azim Premji Foundation. We are honouring the ideals of education philanthropy, which are practised worldwide, but are rare in India.”
Prof. Pillai also outlined various innovations like the Pan Africa network and the upcoming of an Institute of Sign Language Research and Training Centre for deaf people by the university.
Acknowledging the honour, Azim Premji said, “We are focused on primary education in the villages of India, working in good harmony with state and central governments. Focusing on the improvement of quality and equity of education is far more important than getting lost in IT. You can’t build skyscrapers in air. We need a solid foundation to address the demands.”
On this occasion, Kapil Sibal inaugurated the book titled ‘Bridging the Gap: Essay on Inclusive Development and Education’. The book comprise of the lectures conducted through the silver jubilee year and being edited by Dr. Latha Pillai and Babu Ramesh.
