Describing education and health care sectors as essential pillars of a society, President Pratibha Patil has asked NRIs in Cyprus to participate in social welfare programmes launched by the Indian Government. Speaking at a reception hosted for her by Indian High Commissioner, Ashok Kumar in Nicosia last evening, Mrs Patil said India is expanding its education and health care sectors as essential pillars for building a human resource that is educated and healthy. The President said the government has taken up social welfare programmes in whose implementation, civil society and NGOs are important partners. AIR correspondent reports Mrs Patil, who is the first Indian head of state to visit the island nation in two decades, said India has established its place as a major player in the Information Technology sector and its stature is growing in the emerging global order.<br/><br/>