The Hindu : President charts road map for development

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

President charts road map for development

By Our Staff Reporter

KANCHEEPURAM JUNE 19. ``We have to concentrate on the five areas of education and health care, agriculture and food processing, information and communication technology, infrastructure like water supply and power generation and the manufacturing sector,'' the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said today.

This should be the road map for ``developing our nation''. For removing poverty ``we have to concentrate on these five areas''. The President was inaugurating a postgraduate programme in engineering and opening the PG block at the Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya (deemed university) at Enathur, near here.

Dr. Kalam pointed out that there was an urgent need for improving infrastructure for which linking of the Ganga and the Cauvery, the Brahmaputra and the Cauvery, etc., was important. The Centre had also constituted a task force for this purpose.

Power generation was also vital for development. Out of 100,000 MW of power produced in the country, only 60,000 MW was being properly utilised and 40,000 MW being wasted in transmission loss. Young engineering students should come out with solutions to avoid this loss and evolve a cost-effective technology for generating power.

The President said information and communication technology played a vital role, and e-governance had to be introduced at all levels.

During the course of his speech, the President interacted with school children, who assembled there, on developing the nation.

Before taking his seat, the President presented flowers and fruits to the Sankaracharyas, Jayendra Saraswati and Vijayendra Saraswati.

Sri Jayendra Saraswati, in his speech, referred to the yeoman service rendered by Dr. Kalam to the nation and also his affection for all sections and for children.

G.J.V. Jagannadha Raju, Chancellor, who presided, highlighted the achievements of the university.

Visits Kanchi Mutt

In the evening, the President visited the Kanchi Sankara Mutt and had a discussion with the Sankaracharyas for about 20 minutes.

When mediapersons asked Dr. Kalam whether he spoke to them about the Ayodhya issue, the President said ``we discussed the spiritual side of the religion''.

Sri Jayendra Saraswati said ``Dr. Kalam came to the Mutt to offer his greetings on his completing the 50th year of Peetarohanam''. ``We discussed only spiritualism with the President and nothing more.''

The President later visited the Jumma Masjid (dargah), adjacent to the Mutt, offered prayers there and held discussions with Muslims for about 20 minutes. Aslam Basha, head of the jamats in Kancheepuram, received the President.

Tight security arrangements were made for the President's visit to Kancheepuram. He left around 6 p.m. by helicopter.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States