New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Thursday set forth a three-point action plan for evolving an "enlightened society" to curb the menace of terrorism.

Posing the question whether terrorism could be eliminated, Kalam told an international seminar here: "I would like to put forth an action oriented solution for evolving a happy, prosperous and peaceful society in our planet which I call as 'enlightened society'".

This action plan had three components - education with a value system, transforming religion into spirituality, and economic development for societal transformation, Kalam said while inaugurating a two-day seminar on 'Emerging World Order: Implications for the Security Calculus of the Extended South Asian Region'.

Indian Army think tank Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) has organised the seminar that delegates from 28 countries are attending.

Noting that the school hours for children "are the best time for learning", the president said that during this stage children "need value based education in school and at home for them to become good citizens".

"For parents and teachers, the school campus and home have to have an integrated mission that is education with a value system. They must inculcate moral leadership amongst children," Kalam maintained.

"If the child misses the value based education in school, no government or society can establish a transparent society or a society with integrity," he added.

According to Kalam, it was essential for moral science to be taught till the age of 17, as "such enlightened individuals will definitely promote peace and harmony in the planet".

On the second aspect, the president said: "The best component of religion can be transformed into a spiritual force that will shape society".

Dealing with development, Kalam noted that of India's population of over one billion, 220 million still lived below the poverty line and needed education, a place to live, health care, and jobs.

"To meet their needs we have the vision of transforming India into a developed nation by the year 2020," Kalam stated.

"I personally believe that (through the) development of (the) human mind, nations and world society can to a large extent prevent conflicts."

He also spoke of the need for "great writers who can promote peace based on research on evolution of wars".

"I shall, therefore, look forward to your timely recommendations, implement-able by all peace loving nations, in a manner that strengthens global security.

"No region, nation or individual can be secure and prosperous unless all regions of the world, its nations and its individuals are secure and prosperous," the president maintained.

"Let our choice then be to make our world, as a whole, peaceful and prosperous and choose to break out of the past cycles of disorder, violence and war on planet earth and its environment, including space," he stated.

In this context, the president noted that India had, for centuries, been a leader in research into the phenomenon of human consciousness and that modern science had validated these ancient studies.

"I suggest that these findings might have great value in the present times of global conflict and turmoil," Kalam maintained.

Among the countries to be represented are Britain, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and the US. Participants from Australia, China, Japan, Sri Lanka and Turkey would be presenting papers.

The delegates comprise serving and retired civil and military officers, ambassadors/high commissioners, defence attaches/advisers, academicians and media persons.