|
Make India a developed nation by 2020 : Kalam |
 |
A day before his five-year term ended on July 24, outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam set out a time-frame and an agenda for the Government and Members of Parliament to transform India into a developed country by 2020. In his farewell address to Members of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament, he said the country has to march in tune with the challenges of the 21st century. Dr. Kalam spoke of the gap between growth and develop¬mental requirements.
“While we are happy our economy is in ascent phase and our GDP is growing at nearly 9% per annum, it is evident that eco¬nomic growth is not fully reflected in the quality of life, particularly in rural areas and even in urban areas,’’ he said.
At the hour-long function, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chat¬terjee presented the outgoing President with a scroll, signed by MPs of the two Houses, and a memento. The audience included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former PMs like A B Vajpayee and I K Gujral. Cabinet Ministers, Opposition leaders and MPs.
The impressive function began with the Speaker, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman M Rahman Khan, Manmohan Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi and Secretary Generals of the two Houses Yogendra Narain and P D T Achary escorting Kalam inside Central Hall. The Prime Minister later hosted a dinner.
Bridge urban-rural divide
In a broadcast to the nation on July 24, Dr. Kalam stressed the need for bridging the rural-urban divide and for harmonious working of the agricultural, industry and services sectors. This, he said, is essential for eradication of poverty and illit¬eracy.
Calling it a thanks-giving address to the nation, Dr. Kalam catalogued ten experiences as he travelled across the country in his five years as President and described the lessons from each of these encounters.
Kalam did not make any critical reference to the political class, but he said that India should be a nation, “where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.” He also lauded the commitment and devotion to duty of the defence forces, paramilitary forces and Central and State police person¬nel.
Fernandez appointed Secretary to new President
Tourism Secretary Christy Leon Fernandez has been appointed Secretary to the new President, Pratibha Patil. He took over on July 25. He steps into the shoes of retired bureaucrat P.M. Nair whose tenure at Rashtrapati Bhavan was co-terminus with that of former President Kalam.
The 1973 batch IAS officer, who emerged the winner for the top bureaucratic post in Rashtrapati Bhavan, had been cleared for holding the post of secretary to the Central Government in Janu¬ary this year. He joined the Tourism Ministry less than three months ago; this was his first posting holding full charge of a central department. Fernandez has 23 months remaining before his retirement in June 2009. But like Nair, he also can continue beyond this date on a contractual basis, if Patil so desires.
|
