Pondicherry: President A P J Abdul Kalam on February 21 said students should strive hard to eradicate illiteracy among the people.

The First Citizen of India, who addressed students from different educational institutions at an interaction with them in Pondicherry, said the students should work with a vision to achieve greater heights. He also felt that students would do well to carry on literacy programme by covering villages and teaching the illiterate.

Making people literate would have several multifaceted effects, he asserted. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate of the country should be doubled from the present 4.5 per cent to nine per cent during next decade.

Kalam appealed to the students to plant trees to protect the forest wealth. He also witnessed a cultural programme presented by the children of Jawahar Balbhavan, Pondicherry.

The President was seen off at helipad by Lt Governor K R Malkani, Chief Minister Rangasamy, his Cabinet colleagues, Speaker M D R Ramachandran, officials and legislators.

PTI