Not by GDP alone, says the President

NEW DELHI: Calling for a healthier and happier "National Prosperity Index", President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on Monday said though the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was growing at nearly 9 per cent per year, the economic growth was not "fully reflected" in the quality of life of a vast number of people in rural and even urban areas.

"We have evolved what is called National Prosperity Index which is a summation of: a) annual growth rate of GDP; b) improvement in quality of life of the people, particularly those living below the poverty line; plus c) the adoption of a value system derived from our civilisational heritage in every walk of life which is unique to India," said Dr. Kalam at a special function organised to mark the 81st Annual Day of Delhi University's grand old Shri Ram College of Commerce.

Recommending that the students take up a study for implementation of the Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) programme as a business proposition in different States around Delhi, he urged them to become "creative leaders".

Creative leadership


"For success in your missions you have to become creative leaders. Creative leadership means exercising the vision to change the traditional role from commander to coach, manager to mentor, director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect. For a prosperous and developed India, the important thrust will be on the generation of a number of creative leaders," said Dr. Kalam.

It was full house at the college with the audience listening to the President in rapt attention. Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley (who is an old boy of the college), SRCC Governing Body Chairman Ajay Shriram, Principal P. C. Jain, teachers, students and parents attended the function.

Mission for SRCC


Sharing the features of a PURA complex that he had inaugurated in Chhattisgarh, Dr. Kalam said the mission for SRCC was to assign a three-month project work to a group of four students to come up with a detailed project report and implementation plan for PURA in consultation with their respective State Governments and district authorities.

Stating that he had proposed this concept to the Union Government, he suggested that the SRCC faculty members facilitate a discussion among students for deriving "comprehensive parameters" that should be included in NPI and asked them to correspond with him regarding this through e-mail.

Focus on research


Focusing on the need for more research in the country, Dr. Kalam said: "Good teaching emanates from research... Any institution is judged by the level and extent of the research work it accomplishes... Shri Ram College of Commerce with its core competence in commerce, economics and business management should now enter into Ph. D. programmes in these subjects."

`Difficult' questions


After his address, Dr. Kalam fielded "difficult" questions from students ranging from his interest in spirituality and religion to improving the country's agricultural situation, from the States' role in Special Economic Zones to his expectations from the youth.

Asked if there was any clash between his personal views and the high office he occupied, Dr. Kalam said the nation's growth was more important than anything else and that the country was bigger than the political parties.

Role of corporates


In response to a query on the role of corporates in society, the President said both private and government-owned corporates had a social responsibility.

"Each corporate can take up a cluster of villages and develop employment potential of people living there and ensure that health, education and all such amenities are provided to them."

He administered a three-point oath to the youngsters with emphasis on acquiring knowledge and contributing to the realisation of the vision of India in 2020.

All the students who posed questions to the President got a photo-op with Dr. Kalam at the end of his address.


source: Hindu