Bhubaneswar: President A P J Abdul Kalam on May 15 called upon people to rise above gender bias while regretting that girl children were still now facing gender discrimination at homes.

"Our children live in a very unhealthy society, they face gender discrimination at home," Kalam said while inaugurating a 150-bedded paediatric hospital in Bhubaneswar.

"The male child is the first to be rushed to the hospital if unwell," he said and stressed on the need for immediate change of such attitude.

Any such discrimination was not conducive for country's progress, Kalam said earlier in Jajpur district while inaugurating a project of over 100 dwelling units at Ranibandhi and Khadiabandhi villages under Barchana block.

He said parents should make their children educated and inculcate in them leadership qualities.

Stressing on moral education and character building of students, Kalam exhorted the guardians to become role models for their wards.

The President, who was accompanied by Governor M M Rajendran and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Jajpur, said primary education in India faced problems due to lack of awareness among parents in rural and inaccessible areas as their struggle for existence took the upperhand.

In the state capital, Kalam said treatment of children often lacked the emotional care required and the nurses, who are the "angels", have a vital role to give required emotional back-up to the tiny-tots besides medical treatment.

"The cost of not treating children is enormous," he said.

Congratulating the Infosys Foundation for building the new paediatric hospital, Kalam said doctors would not only have to remove the pain of the body but also that of the mind as well.

PTI