The Hindu : National : Collectively launch poverty alleviation programmes, Kalam tells corporates

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Thursday, Nov 09, 2006
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Collectively launch poverty alleviation programmes, Kalam tells corporates

Special Correspondent

``Impact of GDP growth has not reached the rural people at the speed one would expect''

FOR RURAL UPLIFT: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam flanked by Mircrosoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Infosys Chief Mentor N. R. Narayana Murthy at a meeting organised in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI: President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on Wednesday asked the corporate sector to collectively launch rural poverty alleviation programmes, as their individual initiatives have not made a large-scale impact in rural areas and small towns. ``Can you do that? It will be very tough,'' the President said while addressing a meet organised by Microsoft attended by its top official Steve Ballmer.

``During the last few years, I have seen many initiatives being taken by individual companies to bridge the gap between the urban and rural India. However, I do not find a large-scale impact of these measures. All companies have been growing at 20 to 25 per cent every year and reporting substantial profits leading to an overall growth of the gross domestic product (GDP). The impact of this growth has definitely not reached the rural population at the speed one would expect.'' Mr. Kalam wanted all companies and organisations keen to uplift the rural economy to create a separate fund to reach high bandwidth and last mile access and facilities to rural areas. The companies could contribute part of their profit to this fund based on their quarterly performance. This fund should be operated by a separate board of management, independent of the companies contributing to the fund.

The board of management would be entrusted with the task of providing the additional bandwidth needed to the most needy towns and rural areas based as a national priority.

``In a large democracy, you will agree that bridging the gap cannot be done only by the Government. All of you need to help but collectively so that impact is better and your commitment to a common cause is more transparent,'' he said.

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