Date:02/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100250730100.htm

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Kalam vouches for nuclear power

Staff Reporter

Says, it is an effective alternative to fossil fuels that generate carbon dioxide

MADURAI: Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Wednesday vouched for nuclear power as a sustainable energy source and an effective alternative to fossil fuels such as gasoline, coal, oil and natural gas.

Answering a question posed by a student at the silver jubilee celebrations of Mahatma Montessori Higher Secondary School here, he recommended the use of solar and nuclear power as burning of fossil fuels led to carbon dioxide concentration.

To another question, he replied that the agriculture sector was contributing only 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product vis-À-vis 70 per cent contributed by the services and industrial sectors because farmers did not focus on value addition.

Pointing out that the Government had concentrated on setting up agro food processing zones in the 11th Five Year Plan, he said utilising such value addition services would multiply the income of farmers up to ten times.

He also said that augmenting productivity would automatically bring down inflation faced by the country. “We need to increase the production of fruits, vegetables, textiles and such other products,” he told a student.

In response to a question as to how did he feel during the launch of his first rocket, he said that the first launch, in which he played a part, was a failure as the rocket plumped into the Bay of Bengal instead of putting a satellite into orbit.

“My mentor Satish Dhawan (former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation) took the failure to himself,” he said and added that the subsequent launch was a huge success and it was a victory for the entire nation.

Earlier, in his address, Mr. Kalam said that the education process should inculcate among students the capacities to research, think creatively, concentrate on innovation and utilise high end technology besides encouraging their entrepreneurial skills.

He also made the students take pledge that they shall aim high, work hard, impart literacy to at least five people during their holidays, plant at least five saplings in their home or school, turn five others into teetotallers and so on.

The former President also gave away awards to the staff and students of the school. He released a souvenir to mark the silver jubilee celebrations and P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, received the first copy.

School correspondent and Senior Principal Premalatha Pannerselvam spoke.