I am indeed delighted to participate in the inaugural function of the Seva Nilayam of the Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS). The concept of empowering rural population is indeed very important. I am happy to know the various initiatives of Rashtriya Seva Samithi which is operating in three states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa. It has its presence in over 2000 villages employing 3700 volunteers.

Since its inception, in more than two decades of committed action in the rural development sector, I am told that RASS has been focusing its attention on human resource development coupled with the economic development. This new multidimensional Complex would facilitate the integrated human resource development and act as a nodal point for carrying out the activities of RASS.

Gender parity of opportunity

As per the Census of 2001, women account for 48.3% of our total population. Many agencies, both Government and private, are taking initiatives in the areas of training and capacity building, employment and income generation, welfare and gender sensitization with the ultimate objective of empowering women both economically and socially for making them equal partners in development. The efforts of RASS have the power of unleashing the full potential of half of the population of the country.

The next two decades are very important for India for transforming from a 'developing' to a 'developed' nation. The responsible citizens, particularly women are all the more important for the nation as their thoughts, the way of working and value system will lead to the growth and sustenance of a good family, good society and eventually a good nation.

I am reminded of Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharatiar, who in 1910 composed the poem envisioning empowered women of India:

Knowledge powered rural complex

The work of craftspeople and artisans is the result of accumulated skills of generations fused with creativity of the young and traditional knowledge. This area is under constant attack from urban industrial and multinational products based on mass production and industrial materials. We have to preserve this traditional knowledge under this adverse environment. For this, traditional knowledge has to be integrated with technology, value addition, proactive cooperative societies organizations and empowerment of craftspeople and artisans. Under these conditions, instead of craftspeople coming to urban marketing centres, the reverse phenomena will take place.

This can be achieved by creating Knowledge powered village complex called PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) having physical, electronic, knowledge and economic connectivity in clusters of 10-20 villages. This cluster will have, in the periphery, schools, primary health centres, craftspeople working & training centres, silos for storage of products and markets for promoting products of craftspeople and cottage industries. This knowledge powered village complex will also have markets attracting urban business to the villages. RASS has already got innate potential to realize PURA in their regions with the support of State and Central governments. However the spirit of PURA must emerge from the soil of the villages. I would like to administer an oath for enriching the village life:

Declaration by the village citizens

� Children are our precious wealth

� We will give equal importance for male and female children in providing education and rights for growth of our society.

� For health and prosperity we will have a small family.

� Earnings come out of hard work. We will not waste it in gambling and liquor.

� We need to tell our children about the importance of education as learning gives knowledge and knowledge makes the children succeed.

� We need to jointly protect our forest and prevent pollution.

� We will plant at least five trees/saplings.

� We will become the role models for our children.

Conclusion

When a child is empowered by the parents at various phases of growth, the child gets transformed into a responsible citizen. When a teacher is empowered with knowledge and experience, good young human beings with value systems emerge. When an individual or a team is empowered with technology, transformation to higher potential for achievement is assured. When a leader of any village empowers his or her people, leaders are born who can change the nation in multiple areas. When the political leaders of the nation empower the people through visionary policies, the prosperity of the nation is certain. When women are empowered, society with stability gets assured. Such an empowered stage will lead to creation of enlightened citizens with value system resulting in prosperity of the nation.

The process for transforming India into a developed nation has already commenced. All of you are working towards this cause in your own way. We find increasing number of success stories of women for income generation. Rural women are also becoming socially conscious. I wish RASS all success in its mission of empowering the rural population for economic prosperity and social harmony.

I wish you all success.

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