President Kalam's new goals for Meghalaya

Shillong, Mar 15: President A P J Abdul Kalam today presented a seven-point 'Missions for Meghalaya Prosperity' to turn this under-developed hill state into an economically prosperous one before 2017.

''Last few weeks my team and myself worked and evolved a road map for transforming Meghalaya into an economically prosperous state before 2017,'' Dr Kalam said in his historic presidential address to 60 Meghalaya lawmakers here.

''We have identified five areas where India has core competencies for integrated action: Agriculture and Food Processing, Education and Health Care, Information and Communication technology.

Infrastructure: reliable and quality electric power, transportation and creation of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) for rural prosperity and special economic zone,'' the president said.

In his brief address, Dr Kalam set a goal of increasing per-capita income of the state to Rs 60,000 from the existing Rs 23,381 in five years, improving the human development ranking from the present 24 to less than five, realizing the goal of total literacy before 2017 by giving highest priority to women's education, particularly the tribal population and progressively reducing the number of people living below the poverty line from the existing 45 per cent to near zero by 2017.

''In Meghalaya, it is possible to increase the revenue generation of the state and earning capacity of the citizens through creating market avenues with its neighbouring country in Bangladesh in addition to meeting the local requirement. Of course, I can see the political environment, you have to continuously improve the relations with the neighbouring countries, so that Meghalaya can benefit in the business at the same time keeping security as a primary need in the mind,'' Dr Kalam told the legislators.

UNI