The Hindu Business Line : President's call

The message to the nation by President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam on the eve of the 58th Republic Day was of great significance. Particularly, his stress on transparency in Government (G2G, G2C) was a concerned call for better e-governance and for more space and time for citizens to Government (C2G) as well.

To improve our Human Development Index (HDI) ranking from 126 at present to 50, the President's vision can be converted into reality by the Government by declaring human development activities as basic infrastructure required for sustainable and equitable development.

There should be sufficient resources — physical, human and financial — for undertaking such activities that remove regional imbalances. The expenditure on such activities should no more be treated under social services sector and calls for treatment under a separate head of investment.

There is need to recognise the concept of `enlightenment within' to cope with new technological challenges and to shed archaic baggage. There is need to integrate new ideas, world views, skills, traditional belief systems and values in making human resource development truly sustainable.

M. M. Goel

Kurukshetra (Haryana)

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