Manali (HP): On his first outing since he began holidaying in the valley of Manali on May 13, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on May 15 interacted with children at a local school, speaking to them the need for education and telling them that his government was making efforts to make India strong and developed.

In his best elements, he shared jokes with the children, recited a brief poem and took questions from them as he expressed his wish to convert into a "model" the Prini village where his cottage is located in the beautiful valley.

"We are keen to see a school in every village of the country. All children, both girls and boys, should go to school. Children of poor families should also study as education is necessary to fight poverty," he told the students of the Government High School during his visit.

Pointing out that the government had made primary education compulsory, he said in some countries, not going to school attracted fines and punishments. "We also want to do it here," the Prime Minister added.

Stating that the world was watching India having a population of 100 crore with a "hope", he said "we have to make the country strong and developed" and that "progress cannot come without education". All political parties, irrespective of their ideologies, held unanimous views on the development of the country, he added.

PTI