Kalam identifies five core areas to uplift BPL people

Patna, Mar 28 (UNI) President A P J Adbul Kalam today identified five core areas for uplifting 260 million people living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) and outlined a road map to accelerate development in Bihar.

''Food security, education, healthcare, information and communication technology and infrastructure development, besides extending urban facilities to rural areas will warant special attention to improve the lot of the people,'' Dr Kalam said during his address to a joint session of the Legislative Council and Bihar Assembly here.

Infrastructure for all parts of the country such as reliable and quality electric power and surface and air transport, information and communication technology and self-reliance in strategic sectors also required attention, he stressed.

Dr Kalam suggested ten missions for Bihar to transform the state into a developed one by 2015. ''Each of the mission has the potential to make Bihar economically prosperous with tremendous endeavour coming from political system, administration and the collective leadership of the State and the Centre,'' he claimed.

The President suggested the Legislators to focus on the ways to increase Per Capita Income of Bihar from the existing Rs 6,300 per annum to Rs 35,000 by 2010, create an investment-friendly climate, address the problems of building pucca houses, raise literacy and life expectancy and reduce infant mortality rate.

Dr Kalam stated that the government had taken up the Bharat Nirman Programme with an outlay of Rs 1,74,000 crore, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission covering 63 cities with an investment of Rs 17,000 crore, employment guarantee scheme for 23 out of 38 districts of Bihar and increase of the Bank credit for agriculture to Rs 1,75,000 crore during 2006-07.

The President appealed to the Legislators to increase the literacy rate from the present 45 per cent to 100 per cent by 2015 and bring down the number of BPL persons to 20 from 42 per cent by 2010 through proper utilisation of funds.

Referring to the importance of Bihar in the nations development he said, ''India's prosperity depends on the overall development of this state, which has a glorious past.'' The President exhorted lawmakers to strive for the development of their own land which had lit the light of enlightnment and showed the path of democracy to the world.

''Development of Nalanda International University, making the state a global human resource hub and tourist destination of the world are also required to rejuvenate Bihar,'' the President opined.

Dr Kalam also said the country would have to boost GDP growth rate from the existing 8 to 10 per cent and maintain it for a decade to achieve the goal.

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