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President Kalam calls for economic revolution in India
Wednesday, 19 November 2003, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Laying out a futuristic vision for India and its place in the world, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has called for a "well-synchronised economic revolution" and technological renaissance to change people's lives in the next two decades.
"In the coming years, people's lives will be enriched by IT-driven knowledge products and systems, biotechnology and space technology," Kalam writes in his book "Envisioning an Empowered Nation".
The president says IT will become a potent tool in integrating the nation and time and shorten distances to make the world's largest democracy an efficient, competitive and dynamic place.
"We may find human beings inhabiting a planet other than earth and solar power being beamed down to earth. Moreover, hypersonic vehicles, with speeds more than Mach 10, will fly across continents and also be used for weapons delivery."
Technology in agriculture, infrastructure, health and space can transform India into a developed nation by 2020.
In his fourth book, Kalam lays out his futuristic vision spanning agriculture, health, rural development and nuclear weaponry but regrets India is yet to fully catch up with the world.
"In order to take full advantage of the technological developments, investments in communication have to be made. Rapid expansion and extension of India's fixed and mobile telecom infrastructure is essential for stimulating growth."
He also notes that India's gross domestic product per capita is lower than China due to delays in starting development. China started the process at least a decade earlier and its investment was much higher.
To remedy this, he urges Indians to aim "very high" and work for it.
He points out that while India is moving ahead faster in terms of absolute gross domestic product, U.S. is wealthier.
"It is not our aim to fantasize that we should catch up and overtake America within the next decade or so.
"What we need to do is to take responsibility for our own well-being and develop our society consistent with our heritage and sense of value and capability."
He makes out a case for the contribution of Indians within the country as well as spread across the world for a "well-synchronised economic revolution through well-conceived missions, strategies, goals and policies".
The president also wants the Indian IT industry to spawn leading multi-national companies in the world and aim at increasing its target for 2008 from $ 88 billion to $ 140 billion.
"IT would become a potent tool for integrating the nation. Time and distance will be shortened to make the world's largest democracy an efficient, competitive and dynamic nation."
Kalam says education is a pillar of a strong and developed nation.
"Education must become a thrust area, aimed at 100 percent literacy. This is the key for employment. Women's education is particularly important to bring societal transformation, including small family, higher education and better healthcare for children."
He also emphasises the need for new techniques such as genetic engineering and rapid diagnostics to achieve "Health for All" by the year 2020.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS
