The Hindu Business Line : PM calls for fusion of science and spirituality

He made this observation while speaking at a function to celebrate the golden jubilee of Vinoba Niketan, a voluntary organisation based in Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Modern science and technology has enormous power, but science without concern for moral values can go astray, he pointed out. These moral values can be found in the ideas of great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, he added.

The Prime Minister also launched Vinoba Niketan's project to establish the Vinoba Vishwa Vidya Peetam, a rural training institute inspired by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, on its campus.

Education through Gandhian institutions is very relevant to the needs of contemporary India, Dr Singh said. Organisations such as Vinoba Niketan can play a very important role in supplementing the efforts of the Government for establishing a just social and economic order, he added.

In his address, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, said the five decades of selfless service rendered by Vinoba Niketan is a matter of pride and joy for the people of Kerala. Set up in 1954, Vinoba Niketan runs a range of educational and rural development programmes in the region.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister unveiled statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar at the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex. Speaking on the occasion, he described Kerala as an outstanding example of humane economic development.

The State's commitment to education, social justice and empowerment of women, workers and farmers stands out as a model for the entire country to follow, he said.

The challenge before the State now is to augment its industrial and agricultural growth to supplement and sustain the high human development indices, he added.

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