The Hindu Business Line : Green solutions

This is with reference to the article "Focus on agriculture", (Business Line, December 11), which debates the question whether agriculture is necessary for rural development and eradication of poverty.

Take the case of Andhra Pradesh. Perhaps IT had failed the former Chief Minister, Mr Chandrababu Naidu. He was neither able to understand the pulse of the people through it nor was he able to apply it to develop the skills of the rural masses and promote the growth of agriculture.

In this scenario, modernisation of agriculture supported by proper education, information and appliances and employment generation schemes or projects or industries to absorb excess labour would be the solution. The government should encourage corporate interest and cooperation in the rural sector, and take full advantage of the same.

The West Bengal model of land reforms cannot be considered the ideal solution because it is not reflected in the HDI (human development index) and the quality of the life of the people.

Kerala also introduced land reforms and had successive Left Governments. Its HDI is comparable with developed countries. But it requires different solutions.

So, along with the Centre, States will have to play a vital role and each may require some variation of approach to suit its circumstances.

A. Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

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