Focus on wind, solar to achieve energy independence: Kalam

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam has stressed on the need for making India energy-independent by 2030.

Delivering the 28th convocation address of the TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) in Manipal on Wednesday, he said India should focus on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to achieve this.

Rather than focusing on energy security, it is essential to focus on energy independence, he said.

This is the time for technological innovations in agriculture and rural development, he said.

Stressing the need for increasing non-farm revenues in rural areas, he said activities such as dairy farming, sericulture and other enterprises should be encouraged to achieve this.

Kalam asked the graduating management students of the institute to become the leaders in their areas of activities. Stating that anybody can become a manager, he said it is important to become a leader in their areas of interest.

He urged them to become creative leaders in politics, industry and agriculture among others.

Talking on the need for corruption-free and transparent governance in the country, he said it is essential to make homes corruption-free first instead of complaining about corruption in the system.

Ramdas Pai, Chancellor of Manipal University, and RC Natarajan, Director of TAPMI, were present on the occasion. As many as 308 students were awarded degrees at the convocation.

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