Montek prescribes 'Inclusive Growth' for India's progress

Mumbai, Aug 11 (UNI) Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia today gave a call for an 'inclusive growth' to achieve the desired growth of the country.

Addressing the 44th convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here this evening, Mr Ahluwalia said, ''We want to increase the grosss domestic product (GDP) growth of the country from present 7.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent during the 11th five-year plan. It is possible only when the country goes for an 'inclusive growth'.'' He said that for this, all the government departments would have to make a combined effort towards achieving the goal.

Even the targeted figure of 8.5 per cent was not enough, keeping in view the figure of 9.5 per cent, as has already been achieved by countries like China and Korea, he said.

On the import of technologies, he said, ''We will import technologies whatever required by us, but our focus must be on developing them on our own and gave a call to institutions like the IITs to start acting in this direction.'' There is no doubt that India was 'on the move'. And it was evident from the technological progress being made by the institutions in the country, Mr Ahluwalia said.

Technological developments being made in one part of the world were being reflected in the entire world, he added.

The task before India is to expand the scope for the desired goal with inclusiveness of all the sections, Dr Ahluwalia added.

He said the present number of students receiving education and getting admitted to the institutions of repute, which was eight per cent at present, must be increased to 20 per cent within next two decades if we want to achieve the desired goal.

He stressed the importance of innovation in a globalised society and urged the students to be part of the civil society which puts public pressure on government to change. While the same job was being done by the competition in the field of industry and business and public pressure in the government's functioning, he said.

Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Research Centre, who is also chairman of board of directors said ''Higher education, particularly in the field of science and technology, has become more important for our society today than any time before.'' ''We need to produce high quality PhDs in the largest possible numbers covering the entire technological spectrum to encash vast opportunities that have already opened up,'' he added.

IIT Director Prof Ashok Misra highlighted the major achievements of the institute in his presentation.

The Degree of Science (Honoris Causa) was conferred on Obaid Siddiqui, the leading scientist who is presently associated with National Centre for Biological Sciences.

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