Udupi : District In-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said ideologies of Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi should be spread all over, especially among the students, to make them morally and intellectually rich.

He was speaking after inaugurating a state-level learning workshop on Ambedkar organised by district administration, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department and Zilla Panchayat for NSS volunteers here.

Apart from honouring the great leaders, there is a need to understand their perspectives and principles, he said.

Both Ambedkar and Gandhi were instrumental in historic milestones in the Indian freedom struggle and also post-independent India. Both leaders inspired the world by safeguarding humanitarian values in diverse ways, he oberved.

Madhwaraj said Indian Constitution is unique as it incorporates the essence of many constitutions across the world, ensuring equality and freedom.

The Indian Constitution surpasses many available constitutions in terms of being pro-people and also upholding the idea of egalitarianism, he said.

The smooth transition of power in India after every election is possible only due to the refined pedestal of the Constitution, he said.

On identifying Ambedkar with Dalit community, Madhwaraj said Ambedkar never confined himself to a particular community or religion.

He was a rebel in the footsteps of moderates, who stood for the rights of downtrodden and weaker sections in society, including labour class and women. The minister said that Ambedkar fought for the rights of labourers by formulating Labour Law. He also fought for equal rights for women in the property they inherit, the minister said.

He said NSS volunteers will be henceforth exposed to great personalities and their life stories. The drive aims to reach 10 lakh NSS volunteers and currently, it is on and the number has increased to 4.75 volunteers in the state. The government had earlier allotted Rs 5 crore. However, in the present budget, the government has released Rs 13 crore for NSS. A number of programmes will be planned to strengthen NSS, the minister added.