9 pc gowth useless as it failed to address needs: Joshi

Tiruchirapalli, Jul 9: Senior BJP leader and former Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has described the current nine per cent economic growth rate as ''useless'' as it had failed to address food, health and educational needs of the population.

Participating at an interactive meeting with industrialists of Tiruchirapalli here on Tuesday July 8, he warned of food riots and said the process of growth must be balanced and rational, leading to economic and social development of the poor. He said,at present 70 per cent of the population contributed to only 16 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he noted adding that ''there is a basic defect in the growth model. India needs an economic model that suits its entire population.'' Stressing the need for evolving a better management system, he emphasised that technology should be country-specific paving way for uniform progress of all sections.

UNI