[India] Major challenges in eradicating extreme poverty: Indian President

from One World

Berhampur (Orissa), July 4: President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Tuesday that the country was going through a major challenge of uplifting of 260 million people who are below the poverty line.

Addressing the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of City Hight School here, Kalam said that those who are below the poverty line need habitat, food, health care, education, and “finally employment for a good life”.

“Our GDP is growing at nearly eight per cent per annum. Whereas, the economists suggest that to uplift the people from below the poverty line, our economy has to grow at the rate of an additional minimum of two per cent per annum consistently, for over a decade,” he said adding that “our mission” of transforming India into a Developed Nation, was to meet the needs of one billion people.

He further underlined five areas where India has core competencies for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Education and Healthcare (3) Infrastructure for all parts of the country such as reliable and quality electric power and surface and air transport (4) Information and Communication Technology (5) Self-reliance in Strategic sectors.

“These five areas are closely inter-related and when effectively addressed, would lead to food, economic, energy and national security and lead to sustainable prosperity,” said the President.

He went on to say that emphasis should be on full utilization of natural and human resources of the region to meet the demands of modern society as about 50 percent of Indian population consists of young people, “with aspirations for a better life”.

He said that value addition to agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors of the economy, building on the regions’ core competencies and technologies, would lead to higher incomes and employment opportunities, resulting in higher growth rates.

“The engines for growth will be launching of the five national missions viz. water, energy, education and skills, infrastructure and employment generation. Developed states result in developed India,” said Kalam.
Source: Newkerala.com