'The work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is based on the principle that every human life has equal worth -- that the life of a poor child in a developing country is as precious as the life of a middle-class child in a developed country.

'The same innovation and scientific genius that brought the digital age to millions of homes around the world can equally be used to make billions of our children healthier, better educated and empowered to live lives of dignity and self respect. This is the vision and the promise behind the work of the foundation and indeed of the work that we do in government,' Manmohan Singh said.

The foundation, through its India initiative Avahan, has worked for targeted interventions in six states affected most by AIDS.

'Under our third National Aids Control Programme, the National Aids Control Organisation has worked closely with the foundation while developing key strategic interventions and formulating programme guidelines. It is a shining example of partnership between government and civil society in a critically important sector. I commend their work,' the prime minister said.

'The ancient Greeks said that all dreams pass through the gates of horn and ivory, but the gates of Bill and Melinda make the dreams of millions real. I compliment Bill and Melinda Gates for their inspiring leadership and their deep humanism,' he added.