The Hindu Business Line : President seeks quality life for rural populace

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New Delhi Feb. 9 The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, called on quality regulators to ensure that rural India had access to high standards of food, health and education. Inaugurating the Quality Council of India's two-day annual conclave, `Vision 2020 for Quality India' on Friday, the President called for a master plan to bring quality assurance to the unorganised rural sector within the next three years.

Efforts must also be made to ensure quality drinking water and genuine medicines to rural people, said Dr Kalam. Cotton, vegetables and fruit processing were areas where technology, innovation and quality, could together yield multi-fold increase in productivity and value addition, he said.

The President also gave away National Awards of Excellence to Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) in the public sector, and Bharti Airtel Ltd — Enterprise Services Carrier — in the private sector. Commendation awards were also given to National Thermal Power Corporation, and the Director General of Quality Assurance, Hindalco.

Accredited hospitals

Max Super Speciality Hospital and Max Heart & Vascular Institute, along with Kerala Institute Of Medical Sciences, B. M Birla Heart Research Institute and Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences were hospitals accredited by the recently established National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH).

The medical institutes received certificates from the President for complying with 500 criteria requirements of the NABH.

"India has been recognised globally as a healthcare destination for high quality and cost affective medical care. Having a national accreditation system like the NABH will further strengthen the credibility of Indian healthcare system," said Mr Analjit Singh, Chairman, Max Group.