India can be super power before 2020: Kalam

Jalandhar, Aug 17(UNI) President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam today said that sustained efforts of maintaining the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) coupled with active role by the youth could certainly make India an economic super power even before 2020.

Responding to a question from a teenager during interaction with students of Kanya Mahavidhyala here this evening Dr Kalam said ''We are targetting an increase in GDP from eight per cent to ten per cent and if we can keep the GDP between that for the next ten years, India will certainly achive the goal''.

He said that as the country's GDP was around ten per cent in years to come, India would certainly be a happy, prosperous and safe country.

He said that the number of people below the poverty line had been coming down and the goal targetted in the Vision 2020 is really achievable.

In reply to another question by a student about contribution by all good citizens in achieving Vision 2020, the President said that every citizen and every youth could contribute for the national cause simultaneously with his or her personal tasks.

''For instance you as a student should first concentrate in achieving excellence in your academic mission and simultanously in your spare time you can go to your neighbourhood or village to teach illiterates, plant at least five plants and work for spreading message for water and power conservation,'' Dr Kalam said.

In this way every youth and citizen could carve out a practically possible role for the national cause in his or her spare time, he observed.

Prior to this, the President held dissccussion with Vice Chancellors of various universities in the KMV campus.

Dr Kalam arrived here this afternoon to interact with VCs and students of KMV.

He was accompanied by Governor SF Rodrigues, Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and several other dignitaries.

UNI SS PS BP MSJ BD2051