Jaipur: Overseas Indians attending the Pravasi Bharati Diwas (PBD) here from Jan 7-9 feel that to become a developed country, India requires to fill the gaps mainly in the education sector.

"India requires gender-based teaching and it will help to utilize 50 percent of human resources meaningfully. This would also help in women empowerment," said Anita Singh, an academician at the University of Toronto.

Singh, who belongs to Bhilawat village near Ajmer district of Rajasthan, said that mathematics can be understood differently by girls and boys and so teaching should focus on gender too.

She said that in India, the majority of girls do not have access to quality education, which undermines the overall efficiency of human resources as almost 50 percent do not get proper education.

She said that there still exists conservatism, old values, superstitions and traditions which widen the gap between economically growing India and developed countries.

The most important sector to overcome such obstacles is education, Dr Singh added.

She said that in the next 10 years, India will require thousands of colleges and if teaching is modernized as per the requirements of the day, India will surpass all developed countries in more than one way.

Earlier, Dr. Singh interacted with youth during a session and answered their queries.

She said that the rural students like urban should also get top priority.

Dr Singh visited her home state after 10 years and was mesmerized to see changes especially in Jaipur.

"I am very excited and thrilled to be here and after the PBD, I will go to my village to meet family members," she added. IANS