New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Saturday asked societal leaders to take talented students from the weaker sections under their wings to educate them and channelise their potential for the nation building. Patil, delivering the Babu Jagjivan Ram centenary lecture here, also urged the government to “monitor” the educational schemes for the weaker and disadvantaged sections of society, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were implemented properly.

“There are many young bright boys and girls who have various hidden skills, talents and a passion to do things that can be of help to society. However, their potential must be recognized that can be channelised for the purpose of nation building,” Patil said.

“Societal leaders in various fields should come forward and take such students under their wings,” she said at the function, which was presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Patil also asked the government to provide the students from the weaker sections all education-related facilities - such as hostel, nutritional support and extra coaching classes.

The president praised the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna, under the leadership of Minister of Social Justice Meira Kumar, Jagjivan Ram’s daughter, for its schemes for constructing hostels for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students.

Speaking on the occasion, Manmohan Singh recalled that Babu Jagjivan Ram, one of the founding fathers of India’s constitution and a former minister, was “a true nationalist, a true secular minded person, a great administrator and a great son of India.”

Meira Kumar also was present at the function held in the Balayogi Auditorium in the parliament house complex.