The Hindu Business Line : Pitroda for Indo-US nuclear deal

The recent Indo-US accord will be of great help to the country, even though there is resistance to it both in India and the US , "but we need energy", according to Mr Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission and the Chairman of World Tel.

He was speaking here on Saturday after receiving the Dr Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award. The award, instituted by the Dr Y. Nayudamma Memorial Trust here, was presented to Mr Pitroda by the State Finance and Health Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah.

Mr Pitroda said there was always some tension between tradition and technology and "there needs to be a change in mindset. Technology should no longer be perceived as urban, elitist and having no relevance to a country such as India."

The World Tel Chairman said the great challenge was to adopt technology to address basic human needs of the teeming millions of the country. Technology should be adopted to promote rural development.

In this context, he spoke of the telecom revolution in the country and the vast improvement in connectivity during the past 10-15 years, for which Mr Pitroda himself made significant contributions. "Bio-technology has immense potential. We also have to focus on nano-technology and other emerging technologies. We need to have the right kind of governments for the purpose," he said.

He said certain technologies were being blocked in the name of environment. "We also have people who oppose technologies and development, as privatisation is anathema to them. I really don't see why the Government of India should run a hotel. It is the doubt that grips me whenever I step into Ashoka Hotel," he remarked.

Mr Pitroda said India had come a long way during the past two decades, but "we are now at the crossroads and our progress depends on how well we integrate technology into our development strategies."

Earlier Mr P. Vishnumurthy, managing trustee, welcomed the gathering.

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