Kalam calls for effective policy alignments for rural areas

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam today called for "effective policy alignments" in favour of rural sector to create new markets and generate employment.
He said scientists should work in rural technologies to transform the rural sector, which can lead to growth and help boost the economy.
The 'Missile Man' said there needs to be necessary policy alignments to suit the condition so that the sector gets a boost.
"Small and medium size industries need more attention. We should enterprise so that they give higher level of contribution to the GDP in the economy.
"For this we need effective policy alignments to suit the condition. All the scientists and technologists should work in appropriate region, specifically the rural technologies, to transform Indian rural sector," Kalam said.

He was delivering a lecture on 'Evolution of a Nation with prosperity and value system'.

Kalam said that 70 per cent of people live in rural areas and it was essential to provide them adequate access to energy and quality water. "New markets could be created by rural potentials, which could lead to rise in the employment," he said.
"I foresee possibilities of creating new markets through rural potentials and employment, giving rise to interesting possibility of public private and international partnerships," the former President said.
Emphasising on energy independence, Kalam said the country must reduce its dependence on fossil fuel and look for new sources of energy, especially solar.

He also pointed that the trade deficits were undermining the growth of the economy and said a sizable chunk of the import was due to import of crude oil.
"We need to set up 100 per cent energy independence by 2020 and see that economy is not burdened by weight of our reality demands.
"India's trade deficit is because of excess of import over exports. 87 per cent of the import bill was due to import of crude oil. We need freedom from fossil fuel and undertake a mission in solar, nuclear and bio-fuel. We need to set up 100 per cent energy independence," Kalam said.