Ensure inclusive, equitable growth for all: Patil (Lead)

Aug 14, 2007, 14:30 GMT

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) India may be rising as a major economic power with its entrepreneurs surging ahead with fresh confidence but prosperity must touch all sections to make social change meaningful, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil said Tuesday.

'Growth, when unevenly spread, dwarfs overall prosperity,' Patil said in her maiden televised address to the nation on the eve of India's 60th Independence Day celebrations.

'We have to ensure equitable growth for all. The fruits of economic development must necessarily touch, especially, the living and working conditions of our toiling masses and people below the poverty line,' she added.

Stating that the 60-year-old democracy, the largest in the world, was today set to take off, the newly-elected president reminded fellow citizens of their duty to ensure that this unprecedented moment did not go unutilised.

'For our nation to rise and claim its glorious destiny, we must realise that it is our billion hands that can shape it. And, in the immortal clarion call of Swami Vivekananda, I ask my fellow citizens to 'Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached'.'

Patil showered praise on the Indian entrepreneur and termed as 'spectacular' the achievements in areas like knowledge economy, information technology, business process outsourcing services and pharmaceuticals.

'Our corporates have made bold and successful forays into the global market and corporate acquisitions. My good wishes go for our entrepreneurs, big and small, in their continuing enterprise,' she said and added, 'The nation owes a deep debt of gratitude to them'.

Besides delving on the economy, Patil focused on the other challenges before the country including the status of women, poverty, health and agriculture.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi as saying that 'salvation of India lies in the elevation of her women', Patil said history bore sufficient proof that women excelled not only as able homemakers but also in the task of nation building.

'Let us resolve that they are nor left marginalized in our society. Let us also resolve to expand opportunities for their wholesome participation in every field of activity and make them harbingers of sustainable development.'

The recurring thread of Patil's speech was the necessity to foster an environment of cooperative federalism in pursuit of national goals.

'For any nation and its people to become great, there is a need to pursue the path of collective vision. The more developed amongst us should inspire and enthuse the less developed to race ahead on the road to development,' she said.

Pointing out that agriculture played a critical role for balanced development, Patil said besides attaining the goal of food security, 'a strong and robust growth in agriculture can help reduce rural poverty'.

'The success of the first Green Revolution has been significant and helped us feed a population which has crossed the one billion mark. We must sustain the momentum and analyse the challenges that we face in the present agricultural scenario.'

Alluding to India's young demographic profile - a pet theme of her predecessor, Abdul Kalam - Patil maintained it was imperative to bring the needs, rights and expectations of youth to the centre of development concerns.

Educational institutions played an important role to harness this, Patil pointed out.

'While we foster an atmosphere conducive to promoting higher standards of academic excellence, we should not overlook the need to nurture a system of holistic education that teaches positive values and makes good citizens,' the president said.

As the supreme commander of the country's armed forces, she also praised the unparalleled bravery of soldiers guarding the nation's boundaries.

'This is the occasion to express our gratitude to the brave personnel of our armed forces whose eternal vigil and protection of our borders, seas and skies under challenging circumstances have ushered in a climate of peace, enabling us to plan the path of future progress and development of the nation.'

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service