Friday, September 22 2006 11:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: President A P J Abdul Kalam yesterday (Sept 21, 2006) expressed the hope that the Right to Education legislation planned by the Centre to make education compulsory and free for children upto 14 years would be passed by Parliament next year.

Interacting with school children after presenting the Sree Chithira Award to ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair here, Kalam said he had given his assent for circulating the draft bill tothe states for eliciting their views.

"If children excelled in education they could excel in anyfield of their selection. The best education would give them the best opportunity in life," he said.

Referring to the strides made by the country in space technology, Kalam said he had proposed a second space mission to meet the goal of sending manned space missions to the Moon and Mars and application of space technology in industry in a big way by the year 2030.

"As part of its Chandrayan Mission, ISRO was expected to send a satelilite around the moon and land a 50 kg payload on the moon soon," Kalam said.

Recalling his long association with the Indian space programme, he said it was truly commendable that over the years, the country had developed the capability to build any kind of rocket systems and launch vehicles.

"The space technology with its scope for a variety ofapplications had become part of everyday life. This was especially true of a state like Kerala, which could utilise the fruits of space research for development," he said.

Holding that science and cultural heritage could harmoniously co-exist, he said technology could be properly used for spreading cultural and civilisational values.

The President presented the Sree Chithira Award toMadhavan Nair. The award, instituted in memory of the last royal ruler of Travancore, Sree Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma, comprises rs one lakh and a citation plaque.

Kerala Sports Minister M Vijayakumar,former Chief Minister K Karunakaran and head of Travancore Royal family, Uthradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma were present on the occasion.