Date:26/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/26/stories/2005022601221900.htm

Back Young Indians urged to set the pace

Our Bureau

Mr G.V. Sanjay Reddy, National Chairman, YI, addressing the Young Indians Summit organised by the CII and Young Indians in Bangalore on Friday. Members of Parliament Mr B.J. Panda and Mr Sachin Pilot participated through video conferencing. - Bhagya Prakash. K

Bangalore , Feb. 25

AN India free of poverty, with jobs and enterprise unlimited, an economy racing at over 10 per cent of the GDP: all this need not be the stuff of dreams, but a do-able landscape laid out before the country's youth, as the CII's Mr Tarun Das mentored some 700 Young Indians (YI) at their second summit here on Friday.

The Confederation of Indian Industry's Chief Mentor tempered his vision for a new India and said it would be a long-haul marathon full of obstacles, but it would have to take along the rural masses in development activities.

Setting the summit tone from across a video link were two of India's young faces — MPs Mr Sachin Pilot and Mr B.J. Panda. Mr Panda said any meaningful development effort hinged on involving the 600 million rural Indians and called for corporate and political will to tap rural talent.

Mr Pilot said the YI platform should sensitise its targets with human values such as honesty and compassion, apart from economic and social development.

According to Mr Panda, more young people should be in public life. "This is happening. More of us are in politics out of choice and this a good sign." Youth, he said, should be drawn out of their political apathy and energised to vote during elections.

The economy has been growing fast since the 1980s and 1990s and it could go up to 10 per cent from the current 7 per cent. According to a Goldman Sachs report, in a few decades, India is seen to grow to be the third-largest economy in dollar terms, provided we tapped the potential in education, industrial growth and institutional reforms. Education for all, for example, needs investment of Rs 15,000 crore a year but barely a third of it is being spent, Mr Panda said.

Mr Das urged YI to set work targets to touch districts and villages and make the country the skill capital of the world.

The YI summit was a congregation of hundreds of youth and leaders from business, government, local communities, NGOs and educational institutions, some showcasing the projects they did through YI.

The President of CII, Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, said, "India must evolve an original economic and development policy to stand tall in the global scenario. India must strive to achieve the highest standard of education and health for its people." Its core competence can be enhanced through technical strength and human endeavour.

He called upon the younger generation to consciously make a difference by contributing time and effort in India-building activities. He later launched the e-YI Web site.

The two-day summit focusing on education, unemployment, infrastructure and environment is expected to come out with an action plan for the CII's two-year-old Young India forum.