Put development on mission mode, says Kalam

Bhopal, July 17(UNI) President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam today advocated the need for putting development programme on mission mode and suggested 11 missions for overall development of Madhya Pradesh to make it a developed state by 2015.

Addressing the opening session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, which is celebrating its golden jubilee, Dr Kalam said the state should launch missions on horticulture, agriculture, education, global human resource cadre, healthcare, water management, infrastructure development, e-governance, tourism promotion, special economic zones and tribal development.

The missions were aimed at increasing per capita income to Rs 50,000 from Rs 14,000, improving human development ranking from the present 12 to less than 5, realising the goal of total literacy before 2012, progressively reducing the number of BPL people from existing 40 percent to near zero by 2016 and empowering all tribal citizens with quality education, healthcare and employment potential.

''Funds for integrated action for development could be generated from Bharat Nirman programme, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and Employment Guarantee Scheme'', he said,adding the legislators, bureaucrats and the administrative system should seek funds in time and effectively utilise it.

Rich mineral, forest and water resources remain the mainstay of the state's core competence, Dr Kalam said recalling his long association with the state, where he moved from one area to another continuously for many days between 1985 and 1995 and interacted with tribal groups leading to establishment of an important critical national facility in the forest region.

The President also recalled his recent visit to Nanaji Deshmukh-led Deendayal Research Institute at Chitrakoot, which, he said, had emerged as a role model for rural development suiting India.

To the pleasant surprise of many, Dr Kalam started his nearly hour-long address in Hindi and later switched to English.

Prior to his address when Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was giving the welcome address, Samajwadi Party MLA Dr Sunilam sprang a surprise displaying a poster to highlight the chickengunea deaths in Betul district and non-settlement of several oustees in Narmada dam area.

Dr Kalam also interacted with 26 meritorious school children from Jabalpur, the constituency of Speaker Ishwardas Rohani. He also planted a mango sapling at the Assembly premises and posed for group photograph with the legislators before winding up his visit to the state capital.

He later visited a tribal village in Jhabua district to oversee jatropha cultivation and to interact with tribal school children.

Dr Kalam was accorded a warm welcome by Governor Balram Jakhar and others on his arrival at Raja Bhoj airport here.

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