Smriti Irani pitches for 'Literate India - Empowered India'

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani has pitched for a 'Literate and an Empowered India'.

Addressing a function in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Irani said the country will prosper only if there are no dropouts in school and regardless of gender, education is imparted to all.

"If today, the country has to be freed from the fetters of illiteracy as in Gujarat, which proudly showcases 100 percent literacy in the province, I hope to hear such news from all the states to fulfill the dream of 'Literate India-Empowered India," she said

Irani was born into a middle class Delhi family. She worked as a waitress in the food retail chain, Mc Donald's till she got a break as a model after which she became an actor and later went on to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2003.

She stood for the general elections this year from Amethi, contesting against Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and was recently appointed HRD Minister.