AHMEDABAD: Higher literacy among women is responsible for more number of divorces and the lopsided sex ratio in this country. At least that is what BJP MP from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, Satyapal Singh , would have us believe.

Singh was speaking at the 63rd annual convocation of Gujarat University on Wednesday. He then moved on to draw a parallel between higher crime rate and the literacy. “As literacy level goes up in society, crime rate too is increasing,” he said.

Singh added, “In more than 90% of rape cases, the victims are preyed by their own relatives, friends or neighbours. You cannot expect the police to be at every home to prevent this, instead the value-based education can make a difference.”

Singh, who was police commissioner of Mumbai before joining the BJP in early 2014, said that even highly educated people like doctors, engineers, managers and IT professionals were committing suicide. “Our present education system has not taught us the immeasurable value of human life. Beautiful buildings are coming up, but homes are being broken,” said Singh

The convocation was held at Gujarat University Convention Centre. Vice-chancellor M N Patel and commerce faculty dean N D Shah were not present. In-charge officials presided over the function and gave away medals and degree certificates to students.

Governor O P Kohli, who is the chancellor of the university, said that the students should not aim to get education only for achieving high standards in life.

At the convocation, 56,117 degrees were awarded, which included 24,577 degrees in commerce faculty, 16,684 in arts, 8,463 in education, 4,398 in science, 913 in law, 456 in medical, 420 in dental, 199 in engineering, and seven in pharmacy.

In his address, Singh continued to say that the present society was making more and more elders orphaned, while in the past parents and elders were respected. According to a research of 100 engineering colleges in Hyderabad it was concluded that only 18% graduates were employable, he said. “Our country is producing about 40,000 PhDs every year, but our contribution to the world knowledge is less than 2%,’’ he said.

Singh in the address said that the students should use their knowledge for the development of the country and society as a whole. He even called upon the students to set new standards of scholarship and leadership and dedicate themselves for the cause of the nation and humanity.

