New Delhi, Aug 4 - The Lok Sabha Tuesday passed what Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal termed 'historic' legislation providing for free and compulsory education for all children in the 6-14 age-group. This is the first time an effort had been made to universalise education in the country.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009, that the Rajya Sabha had passed July 20 was passed by the lower house by a voice vote, even as Sibal, who piloted the measure, gave a clarion call to all states to cooperate with the central government in implementing the measure.

The bill will now go to President Pratibha Patil for her assent before becoming law.

'There is no politics here, this is a partnership between the centre and the states for India's future,' Sibal maintained.

Terming the bill 'historic', he added: 'This is the first time an attempt has been made in the country to universalise education.'

Noting that it was high time 'we gave every child a legal right' to education, Sibal said: 'We have been talking about it for the last 16 years.'