India needs to strive for better economic prosperity: Pranab Mukherjee

If business leaders and other stakeholders come together, the country can actualise the potential of its bright young population, says President

India needs to strive for greater economic prosperity to eradicate backwardness and poverty, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said, asserting that development of industry is central to this progress.

He also said that companies must examine how ethical their actions are and how fair are their practices.

"Development of industry is central to economic progress. The success of our industrial sector depends on the efficient use of our resources including labour as much as the productive use of capital," Mukherjee said at the World Confluence of Humanity, Power and Spirituality organised by industry body Assocham.

He said it is necessary to infuse the culture of hard work, sincerity and dedication in the workforce and this is where spirituality has a role to play.

A happy and satisfied workforce is the key to a healthy industrial eco-system, he added.

"At the organisational level, companies have to look at how they are upholding their values. How congruous are their actions with regard to what they espouse as their values? How ethical are their actions and how fair are their practices? What behaviours in their employees are they rewarding?," the President said.

Organisations have to ensure that their culture, the way they do things, promotes a spirit of inclusion and collaboration, he said, adding that working towards self- actualisation has to be a way of life for the employees.

"So what is spirituality for us today? I believe it is an India that lives by the values we have always upheld through our history; an India that embraces diversity, that is open and inclusive, where people live with the values of inclusion and tolerance. It is also an India where people strive for achievement, for personal growth, and for balance in life," Mukherjee said.

He pointed out that if business leaders and other stakeholders come together, the country can actualise the potential of its bright young population.

"A work force that is motivated and content, works with devotion and passion, strives for achievement and betterment, indicates the power of a spiritual and honest mind. We need to inspire commitment in our workforce," he said.

The President observed that if "we approach work with the same piousness as we have when we worship God, we will experience a sense of being uplifted; of being connected to a greater power.

"If we think of pleasing God through our work and that God is watching us, our work will have a different quality and meaning. We will then move closer to perfection".