The Hindu : Karnataka News : President for region-based development plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 24, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

President for region-based development plan

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA, SEPT. 23. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today expressed concern over the increasing gap between rural and urban areas and stressed the need to bridge it by tackling problems such as employment.

Inaugurating a seminar on "Vision 2020 - resurgent rural India'' organised by the Hyderabad Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, he said the country should formulate an integrated plan for development on a regional basis, taking into account its core competence, natural resources, climatic conditions and cultural heritage. Holistic planning and development should be region-based. Since rivers, hills and culture were region-based, solutions to problems and development schemes should also be region-based, he said.

To adopt such an approach, the President said that he had divided India into seven regions. For the northern region, agriculture, tourism, light engineering and herbal products had been identified as core areas of development and opportunities. In the desert region, power generation, milk and dairy products should be given importance. In the Gangetic region, agriculture, agro-food, floodwater harvesting, manufacturing and tourism should be given importance. For the northeast region, the areas identified included hydropower, cottage industries, harnessing floodwater and high-value eco-tourism.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka