Common civil code reflects Constitution’s equality principle: Prez

By India News Stream staff
July 7, 2018
Panaji: President Ramnath Kovind today praised Goa for enforcing a common civil code, saying it was relected the principle of equality as enshrined in the Constitution.

The President said he was happy to note that the Government of Goa was giving special attention to the empowerment of girl children and women. He appreciated the legacy of a Common Civil Code that provides equal rights to each woman and man.

”The Goa Civil Code reflects the ideal of equality mentioned in our Constitution and presents a good example for the rest of the country, ”he said.

His comments came while speaking at a civic reception hosted in his honour by the Government of Goa here.

Implementation of a common civil code was of the poll promises of the ruling BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Goa is the only state where a uniform civil code exists. It has been in force since the days of Portuguese rule from which the state was liberated in 1961. However, there are with some exception in case of specific communities.

The President said the natural beauty of Goa is amazing. It has attracted people from all over the world for centuries. In turn, this interaction has promoted ideas and thoughts that have contributed to Goa’s development. He appreciated the people of Goa for their welcoming nature, especially when it came to tourists.

later adddressing the 30th convocation of the Goa univeristy, the President said the students should bear in mind that access to higher education was still a privilege in India. It is the contributions of countless citizens, many of whom will not even know them personally, that sustain institutions such as Goa University. “As you go into the world and build your careers do remember that – and do try and give back to society, in whatever manner you can or wish to”.

Referring to the higher education scenario in the country, the President said that India has the world’s third-largest education system but this also serves the world’s largest youth population.

India has made impressive gains in widening the higher education ecosystem, and the very fact that many new institutions, including Central Universities and IITs, are being established in hitherto under served locations illustrates the national commitment to taking higher education to the masses.

However, he said, expanding quantity has to be complemented by quality, and this is where the greatest challenge exists. As technology advances and societies grapple with the implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, higher education has to adapt to new expectations. It has to be sensitive to inter-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary pathways, without losing sight of the core of disciplinary knowledge.