Food at affordable prices most important right for citizens: Pranab Mukherjee

WEST BENGAL: On a day when the WTO virtually gave its nod to India to go ahead with the food bill, President Pranab Mukherjee today said ensuring food at an "affordable price" is the most important fundamental right a state can ensure to its citizens.

"I don't know what will be the outcome at WTO... There are issues which are pressing hard... but to have access to food at affordable price is perhaps the most important fundamental right which a state can give to its citizens," he said after inaugurating the 5th edition of the Indian Youth Science Congress at the Vishva-Bharati University here.

He quoted Mahatma Gandhi's words-- "To the hungry, bread is god"-- to drive home his point.

Mukherjee said it is a challenge to feed 1.25 billion people of the country and the scientist community, especially the young minds, had an onerous responsibility towards enabling India accomplish this task.

"People who are deprived... They are looking at you. What direction you can give to them? The desired goal (for them) is of prosperity and equity," he said urging young minds to brainstorm and innovate to solve problems plaguing the country.

Mukherjee, who arrived in West Bengal on an official tour today, said, "India requires another green revolution" as the country has a growing population.

Pioneer of India's first green revolution movement and eminent scientist M S Swaminathan was besides the President when he spoke these words to the young students of science who assembled here from across the country for five-days of knowledge sharing and idea exchange.

He said the challenge for scientists in the modern times is to ensure "multi-dimensional growth" without disturbing the environment.

"There cannot be a clash between development and environment," he said.

During his inaugural speech, Mukherjee also praised the ISRO and its scientists who made the mission 'Mangalyaan' a success.

"This is a remarkable achievement of ISRO. With this mission India has entered into an exclusive club of nations who have made this (Mars mission) come true... we may see encouraging results by 2014," he said.

He asked the young brains to go ahead in their pursuits with "courage, confidence and fortitude".