Udupi: Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, said on Sunday that education was the key to contributing for the welfare of society and the country.

One should start loving his country right from his childhood. Empowering people with education was a laudable initiative. “Education, electricity and employment are the three Es to achieve greater heights,”.

Instead of the conventional education offering just degrees, the education system should produce people who can become assets to the nation. while speaking as the chief guest at the GSB world convention organised by the GSB Samaj Hitarakshana Vedike. He also lauded the contribution made by the vedike for ‘Army Welfare Fund – Battle casualties’.

He also lauded members of the GSB Hitarakshana Vedike for taking out a ‘yatra’ from Kerala to Goa to collect contributions for the Army Welfare Fund.

Mr. Parrikar said that unfortunately, education now focused on learning and reading. But education should develop integrity among people.

The vedike’s target was to give Rs. 1 crore for the fund. Since people had voluntarily contributed for the fund, it carried a lot of weightage.

Inaugurating the convention, P.B. Acharya, Governor of Nagaland, said that education was the best antidote to fight against poverty. It was essential that people of the mainland developed relations with the people of North-East India.

T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education, Bengaluru, said that the GDP of the country was presently estimated at 2.25 trillion dollars.It was expected to grow to 10 trillion dollars by 2030.

A book ‘Saraswath Heritage’ by Sumathi Shenoy was released. P. Dayananda Pai, businessman, Bengaluru, welcomed the gathering.