Kalam asks MPs to have some vision
As he demits office, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday said Parliament faced greater challenges than ever before and wanted MPs to evolve a vision to transform the nation into a developed country by 2020.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: As he demits office, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday said Parliament faced greater challenges than ever before and wanted MPs to evolve a vision to transform the nation into a developed country by 2020.
"At the dawn of 21st century, Parliament, like any other institution faces greater challenges than ever before, especially on matters related to human development and governance," he said in a thought-provoking address to MPs who bade him farewell in the Central Hall.
Suggesting MPs to formulate an Energy Independence Bill and adopt a resolution for Vision 2020, Kalam said a Parliamentary Vision for the Nation should be evolved in the same manner as the Constitution was first drawn up.
"The 21st Century Parliamentary Vision for India needs to have a global and long term perspective ... for transforming India into a developed country by 2020 with National Prosperity Index as a measure and acquire energy independence before 2030," he said.
Starting his speech with "Namaskar", Kalam initially spoke in Hindi and then switched over to English as the audience in the high-domed Central Hall heard him in rapt attention.
Though Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who quit as Vice President on Saturday, was not present, Kalam described him as a "remarkable person" and when he wished his successor Pratibha Patil "all the best in her mission", the audience gave him a big hand.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and I K Gujral, were prominent among those present. (MORE) PTI MS SMI GSN GSN 07231907 DEL Kalam said though the economy was "in the ascent phase" with the GDP growing at nearly nine per cent per annum, "it is evident that economic growth is not fully reflected in the quality of life of a large number of people, particularly in rural areas and even in urban areas".
"At the dawn of 21st century, Parliament, like any other institution faces greater challenges than ever before, especially on matters related to human development and governance," he said in a thought-provoking address to MPs who bade him farewell in the Central Hall.
Suggesting MPs to formulate an Energy Independence Bill and adopt a resolution for Vision 2020, Kalam said a Parliamentary Vision for the Nation should be evolved in the same manner as the Constitution was first drawn up.
"The 21st Century Parliamentary Vision for India needs to have a global and long term perspective ... for transforming India into a developed country by 2020 with National Prosperity Index as a measure and acquire energy independence before 2030," he said.
Starting his speech with "Namaskar", Kalam initially spoke in Hindi and then switched over to English as the audience in the high-domed Central Hall heard him in rapt attention.
Though Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who quit as Vice President on Saturday, was not present, Kalam described him as a "remarkable person" and when he wished his successor Pratibha Patil "all the best in her mission", the audience gave him a big hand.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and I K Gujral, were prominent among those present. (MORE) PTI MS SMI GSN GSN 07231907 DEL Kalam said though the economy was "in the ascent phase" with the GDP growing at nearly nine per cent per annum, "it is evident that economic growth is not fully reflected in the quality of life of a large number of people, particularly in rural areas and even in urban areas".
While the country could be rightly proud of its leadership and its many achievements over the past 60 years, "we cannot afford to rest content with the past achievements and we have to march in tune with the challenges of 21st century...National leadership has to radiate confidence in our people that 'we can do it'".
Visualising a distinctive profile of the country by 2020, Kalam said people have to transform India into a developed nation by using core competence in areas like agriculture and food processing, education and health care, infrastructure, information and communication technology and self-reliance in critical technologies.
Showering praise on the outgoing President, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the journey of Kalam from a tiny hamlet of Rameshwaram to the Rashtrapati Bhawan was indeed inspiring.
A scroll, signed by the members, along with a memento was presented to the Bharat Ratna awardee by the Speaker, who recalled Kalam asking students to "think big" and "dream big".
"During your years as the President you have zealously tried to ignite the young minds to assimilate that vision (of developed nation by 2020) and to strive to achieve the same," Chatterjee said.
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