Date:20/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/20/stories/2008072057820200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Voluntary organisations urged to work together to empower women

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Pichumani

PROMOTING EDUCATION: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala inaugurates the science and primary block at Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam School in Chennai on Saturday. Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam president U. Md. Khalilulah (left) and senior advocate Habibullah Badsha are in the picture.

CHENNAI: Literacy rate in rural areas and among minorities can be improved if voluntary organisations work together to empower women, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said here on Saturday.

He urged voluntary organisations to focus on reaching out to the socio-economically backward and tribal communities.

Inaugurating the science and the primary block of Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam school in T. Nagar, he said the 2001 census of the country revealed that among Muslims, only 55 per cent of men and 41 per cent of women were literate, as against 65.4 per cent of non-Muslim men and 46 per cent of non-Muslim women. Quoting a passage from the Quran (surah 96) that emphasised the importance of education, Mr. Barnala said the word ‘Quran’ itself was derived from the word meaning ‘reading’.

He congratulated the school and its patrons in providing education to not only Muslim children but also to underprivileged children in the area.

Senior advocate and past president of the organisation Habibullah Badsha said the new block was built at a cost of Rs.2 crore. Hostels on campus house about 800 orphan boys and girls.

Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam president U. Md. Khalilulah said the organisation, founded in 1890 under the patronage of the then Prince of Arcot, moved to the present campus in 1948.

This year, the school had secured 100 per cent pass in the Class X and XII board examinations, he said.