India can become developed nation before 2020, says Kalam

Leh, July 28 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today said if the current progress of the country continues then the goal of becoming a developed nation before the year 2020 would not remain merely a dream.

''All efforts have to be made to bring prosperity through education with value system and employment generation. A few years ago, the number of people below the poverty line in the country was 26 per cent, but today it has come down to 22 per cent,'' he said, while interacting with school students here.

On being asked which role he found more productive -- of a scientist or of the President of India -- he said, ''As a scientist I had prepared the roadmap for transforming the country into a developed nation by 2020. And now as President, I am marketing the programme to the political system and administrative system for implemention.'' Dr Kalam also informed the students that providing physical connectivity to all the remote areas of the country, especially Leh and Srinagar, was a priority task.

''In Bharat Nirman Programme and the Prime Minister's Reconstruction programme, electronic and physical connectivity is the focus. Both Central and state governments are working jointly in this regard,'' he said.

He also said Srinagar will have an international airport very soon and Leh will have a modern airport with instrument landing system.

''The Telecom Department is working to improve the tele-density.

All these actions will ensure that Ladakh will remain connected all through the year with the rest of the country,'' he noted.

On militancy and poverty, he said only education can eventually make a differnce in bringing peace and eradcating povertry in the state.

UNI BAS KD PM2142