Hyderabad: "Education is the social responsibility of every single person, even if it was made a fundamental right only recently," said the chairman of the Law Commission of India, Justice P. Venkata Rama Reddi.

He spoke after giving the 10th Annual Awards 2009, instituted by the Justice P.C. Reddi Trust, to honor girl students from economically weak backgrounds who fared well in law, medicine, engineering and sports.

He said that the disparities in opportunities made him wonder whether equal opportunities for males and females existed only on paper. Regretting the fact that for most people, money and the markets were of utmost importance, he added that more concern for the under-privileged was required.

Justice P.C. Reddi, former Chief justice of Andhra Pradesh presided over the ceremony and in his speech, said that even though the government and social sectors had taken initiatives, women’s education in Andhra Pradesh still remains below the national average.

The girl students were awarded cheques for Rs. 20,000 each.