The President today strongly condemned incidents of ragging in educational institutions and exhorted teachers to prevent the menace from taking place in any establishment in the country. Speaking after presentation of National Awards to teachers at a function in New Delhi today, Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil asserted that teachers must inculcate among students the understanding and respect for different opinions besides the values of tolerance. She called upon an attitude that strengthens the bonds of unity in the society must be developed in the students so as to ensure that society is compassionate and caring. Mrs. Patil said the modern day technology can help in developing such attitudes as appreciation of diversity will broaden the horizons of humanity besides promoting understanding among people.Observing that the Right to Education Act has placed greater responsibility on all stakeholders, Mrs. Patil said the challenge before teachers is to ensure that children actively participate in school activities. The President said that good teaching is a long term investment and its fruits often invisible for a long time. She called upon teachers to be in the front to build a new India, a new society. Addressing the function, the Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal asked the state governments to prepare enforcible rules to ensure a rational and transparent system of postings and transfers in the light of the implementation of the RTE Act.He said Right to Education lays emphasis on full involvement of teachers in school management committee. The Minister said the country can ill afford to tolerate aberrations like wilful absence from duty or appointment of substitute teachers. Earlier Mrs Patil presented National Teachers awards to 312 teachers at an impressive function at the Vigyan Bhawan. Each award carries a certificate of merit, a silver medal and 25,000 rupees in cash. The awards were given to teachers from 28 states and 7 union territories. The Maximum number of 28 award winners each were from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The day is being observed to mark the birth day of Dr.Radha Krishanan, famous educationist, philosopher and the former president of India who is known world over for his contribution to this field. Speaking to AIR correspondent, some award winning teachers observed that it is important to ensure education reach to all for the overall development of the country. AIR correspondent reports that the government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure education to all besides reforming the sector to take it at par with international standards.