I am delighted to be in this divine environment and intract with the students belonging to 350 institutions of Sri Math. My pranams to His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji and greeting to Principals, teachers, students, parents and other participants. I am happy to learn that Sri Math is organizing the launch of the Development of Education, Skill Formation and Healthcare (DESH) programme in this campus today. The purpose of the programme is to transform the citizens in this area towards a knowledge society for undertaking the higher responsibility needed for transforming India into a developed nation by 2020. Now I would like to describe the profile of competitive India which we are visualizing when fully developed.

Profile of Competitive India

1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.

2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution of energy and quality water.

3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony, absorbing technology thereby resulting in sustained wealth generation leading to higher employment potential.

4. A Nation where education is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.

5. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars and scientists all over the world.

6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all the billion population and the communicable diseases like AIDS/TB, water and vector borne diseases, Cardiac diseases and Cancer are extinct.

7. A Nation where the governance uses the best of the technologies to be responsive, transparent, easily accessible and simple in rules, thereby corruption free.

8. A Nation where poverty has been totally alleviated, illiteracy and crime against women are eradicated and the society is unalienated.

9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy.

10.A Nation that is one of the best places to live in, on the earth and brings smiles on a billion plus faces.

Realising this will need increasing our present annual growth rate of GDP from 7% to 10%. We have a road map for accomplishing this mission.

Integrated action

To meet the need of one billion people, we have the mission of transforming India into a developed nation. We have identified five areas where India has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Reliable and Quality Electric power, Surface transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the country. (3) Education and Healthcare (4) Information and Communication Technology (5) Strategic sectors. These five areas are closely inter-related and if properly implemented, will lead to food, economic and national security of our country.

Engines for Growth

Emphasis should be on full utilization of natural and human resources of the nation to meet the demands of the modern society. We should also remember that about 50% of our population is young people with aspirations for better living. Value addition in Agriculture, Manufacturing and Service sectors, building the national core competence and technologies will lead to additional high income employment potential. The engines for growth will be accelerated by launching of the five national missions viz. water, energy, education and skills, infrastructure and employment generation. The totality of these five missions will enable achievement of 10% GDP growth rate per annum. It is possible to do so with ecological and economic sustainability. It is not the mission of governments. It is a collective efforts of big and small businesses, science and technology and academic institutions, foreign investors, and many others who have confidence about India.

One of the important missions which we have to embark on for balanced development of the country is PURA ie Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas.

Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA)

The number of PURA units for the whole country is estimated to be 7000 and for Karnataka is 213. This envisages integrated connectivities to bring prosperity to rural India. These are - physical connectivity of the village clusters through quality roads and transport; electronic connectivity through tele-communication with high bandwidth fiber optic cables reaching the rural areas from urban cities and through Internet kiosks; and knowledge connectivity through education, vocational training for farmers, artisans and craftsmen and entrepreneurship programmes. These three connectivities will lead to economic connectivity through starting of enterprises with the help of banks, micro credits and marketing of the products.

Each PURA cluster will connect about 20 villages depending upon the region and population and will cost about Rs.100 crores (~$20 Million). After initial short-term employment during construction etc., we have to plan for initiating actions for providing regular employment and self employment opportunities in nationally competitive small enterprises in agro processing, manufacturing and services sectors for about 3000 people. If the industrial/business parks are marketed well, they can generate employment opportunities in support sector for about 10,000 people in that cluster. This will provide sustainable economy for the rural sector. In this national mission, bankers can promote entrepreneurship in the rural areas. This will lead to the removal of urban-rural divide. This experience can become a model for other countries to follow.

PURA as an Enterprise: A large number of banks have entrepreneurial development programmes. Banks have also been funding Small Scale Industries of different types in various regions. The small scale industrialist is a promising candidate for becoming the chief executive for managing the PURA complexes in an integrated way. PURA enterprises can also undertake management of schools, health care units, vocational training centres, chilling plants, silos and building a market, banking system and the regional business or industrial units. A new mission mode management style has to emerge for PURA enterprises. It should not be looking for protective legislations to support them. Rather they should be efficient to compete with others. This new PURA enterprise needs partnership from the bank, from the Government and also from the private entrepreneurs. Banks can train the entrepreneur for managing the PURA in their training centres and also provide them loans for creating and running PURAs as a business proposition. Students graduating from the Sri Math institutions can participate in this programme in this region by becoming entrepreneurs for establishing PURAs. This will enable creation of job providers rather than job seekers in the state.

Now I would like to administer a 10 point oath for enlightened citizenship. Are you ready:

TEN POINT OATH

1. I will pursue my education or the work with dedication and I will excel in it.

2. From now onwards, I will teach at least 10 persons to read and write those who cannot read and write.

3. I will plant at least 10 saplings and shall ensure their growth through constant care.

4. I will visit rural and urban areas and permanently wean away at least 5 persons from addiction and gambling.

5. I will constantly endeavor to remove the pain of my suffering brethren.

6. I will not support any religious, caste or language differentiation.

7. I will be honest and endeavour to make a corruption free society.

8. I will work for becoming an enlightened citizen and make my family righteous.

9. I will always be a friend of the mentally and physically challenged and will work hard to make them feel normal, like the rest of us.

10. I will proudly celebrate the success of my country and my people.

Question and Answer Session

1)Dear Sir, Is it easy being a President?

- Lim Hoon Mok, 6th Std. BGS International School, Nithyanandanagara, Kumbalgodu (KOREA)

Ans: For every assignment we have to work. There is no institution which is either easy or difficult. Persistent work can give satisfaction and happiness to us.

2)Respected Sir, As a Thailand student, I have imbibed a lot of Indian culture and education and Swamiji?s philosophy of global harmony. After my education, I want you to help us and guide us to get into the mainstream of India, so that we would be a part of making your vision of India in 2020 come true.

- Natcha Kaovorakarn, 10th Std. BGS International School, Nithyanandanagara, Kumbalgodu (THAILAND)

Ans: First I would suggest you to work hard, acquire knowledge and excel in all the subjects. After completion of your studies that is plus two and graduation you will definitely have unlimited opportunity to work on development missions particularly in the rural areas. The Math itself will be organizing PURA complexes in this region which will provide entrepreneurial tasks to the students passing out from these institutions.

3.Respected Sir, In your opinion, which would be better? An Indian pursuing his higher education in world-renowned institutions and bringing his expertise back to India or continue working in foreign countries and glorify India?s name over there.

- Suneela s Kirloskar, Ist PUC. BGS International School, Nithyanandanagara, Kumbalgodu (KARNATAKA)

Ans: I would suggest that every Indian must bring the expertise which he has acquired in world renowned institutions to India and make our institutions grows stronger and self-reliant.

4)Dear Sir, Is there any advance technology to predict earthquakes and natural disasters so that loss of lives can be prevented?

- I.M. Biradar, Ist Sem, M Tech,Mechanical Engineering, S.J.C.Institute of Technology, Chickballapur (KARNATAKA)

Ans: Expert teams from many countries are working on this project. India is a partner in this project. I am sure in a few years time we will be able to predict the occurrence of an earthquake. This will provide adequate time for evacuating the people from the expected zone. Scientists are hopeful about this project.

5)Dear Sir, What is white dwarf?s stage? Is this stage possible in the sun if so what happen to the solar system?

- L. Mallika, 3rd Sem, CS&E Engineering, S.J.C. Institute of Technology, Chickballapur (KARNATAKA)

Ans: A white dwarf is what stars like our Sun become when they have exhausted their nuclear fuel. Near the end of its nuclear burning stage such as stars expel most of its outer material. This stage is possible for the Sun and it will take probably after five billion years.

6)Respected Sir, Quality Primary education and health care facilities are not provided to the rural people. What measures do you propose to improve?

- Ashis Kumar Pandey, Ist Sem CS&Egineering, S.J.B Institute of Technology, Bangalore (KARNATAKA)

Ans: Tele-education and tele-medicine projects are taking shape in number of rural areas particularly in Karnataka and Kerala. With the availability of these facilities and inter-connectivity with corporate hospitals

7)Dear Sir, The present trend among the students is to choose professional courses after completion of PUC. This has resulted in dearth of talented students studying Basic sciences. What measures your Excellency proposes to attract meritorious students for studying Basic sciences?

- Pooja. S. Ist Sem, Electronics & Communication, B.G.S Institute of Technology, B.G. Nagara(KARNATAKA)

Ans: (a) It is essential to have an assured career in science for a certain number of high quality committed scientists with aptitude towards research. There should be a minimum annual intake of about 300 M.Sc and 100 Ph.D scientists with proper emoluments and assured career growth in the organisations such as ISRO, DRDO, Atomic Energy, CSIR, DST and the Universities. The private and government funded universities must be encouraged to appoint M.Sc and Ph.D who have been selected through a nationally coordinated competitive selection process. This will be a great motivator for the science students and also their parents for pursuing advanced courses in science. This is the first and foremost need for attracting young people to career in science - an assurance to the youth and the parents that the future is secure, once they take science as a career.

(b) The experienced scientists and policy makers of the organisations must recognize the talents available in the organisation irrespective of the position and empower the young scientists to create state-of-the art laboratories once they have concrete thoughts and vision. Prof Vikram Sarabhai in the initial stages of ISRO brought in a culture of management which encouraged and satisfied the vision of the young scientists which collectively succeeded in making the mission of the organisation a reality.

(c) Universities and Research and Development institutions must encourage and facilitate the young scientists to write quality research papers in frontier areas and in prestigious journals. They should also facilitate the youth to present the papers in national and international seminars and symposiums which will enable them to assess their standard against international benchmarks. Encouraging youth to be lead authors while publishing the joint research would be a very good gesture that the youngsters would cherish for many years.

(d) Based on my experience during my interaction with the 600,000 students, I realize that they are looking for role models, whom they would like to follow after their 10+2 career. Approximately 7 million students appear for plus two examinations every year. Out of which 3 million students are from the science stream. To attract this youth towards a career in science, we need many novel ideas. The youth must be made to understand the beauty of doing science, the pleasure of doing science and the ultimate bliss when the results of science make you understand the nature, master it, control it and finally make things that improve the quality of life of the human kind. Every one of us, scientists must pledge that we will at least spend sometime visiting the schools to ignite the young minds by recounting our own experiences.

All these actions are required to motivate young minds towards the scientific career.

8)Dear Sir, Though GDP is increasing and natural resources are available in abundance, what is the reason for 26% of Indian population being below poverty level?

- Deepthi Krishnan. 9th Tern MBBS, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G. Nagara(KARNATAKA)

Ans: Our GDP is growing at 7% per annum. An additional 3% annual growth is required which should be sustained for 10 years to make this percent nearly zero.

9)Respected Sir, What is the fundamental thing to make India a super power? Is there any specific area in which India is going to be a super power in the near future?

- Neeraj Kumar. 7th Sem CS&E, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Technology, Chickkamagalur(KARNATAKA)

Ans: Information and Communication Technology, bio-technology, nano-technology and the convergence of these three technologies will give strength to India for becoming globally competitive.

10)Respected Sir, As Science and Technology is rapidly developing, the suffering of the poor is also increasing; will science find a clear cut solution for uplifting the poor?

- S.U. Manju Ist PUC, BGS Residential Rural PU Composite College, Agalagurki, Chickballapur(KARNATAKA)

Ans: Science is currently helping mankind. For example, we are produced 200 million tones of food grains dues to green revolution. Our communication has improved due to space technology. We are able to generate nuclear power due to science and technology.

11)Respected Sir, What is the root cause for terrorism?

- A.N. Manjunatha. IInd PUC, BGS Residential Rural PU Composite College, Agalagurki, Chickballapur(KARNATAKA)

Ans: Terrorism arises out of lack of development, lack of opportunities and a large economic disparities among people.

12)Dear Sir, Now we are having scarcity of drinking water. Why can?t the scientists discover methods to purify the ocean water into drinking water? What about your desire of linking the rivers?

- Hemashree. Xth ?B?, BGS Residential Rural High School, Agalagurki, Chickballapur(KARNATAKA)

Ans. The best way to convert seawater into potable water is one which consumes the least amount of energy. With India being blessed with a large amount of renewable energy resources like sun light, wind power, bio-fuels etc, it is natural that the best way for India is to use desalination plants operated by renewable energy resources.

13)Respected Sir, What is the reason for Brian Drainage and how to prevent it?

- Bhanu Priya. 8th Std. Sri Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji, Rural School,Melekote Cross, Doddaballapur, (KARNATAKA)

Ans: India produces about 300,000 professionals like engineers, doctors etc. each year. There is nothing wrong in some of them going abroad for work. Indians maintain umbilical connectivity with their homes and educational institutions even when they are abroad. This connectivity provides very good input for the nation.

14)Respected Sir, You were living near the sea but you studied about the sky!(i.e. astronomy) why?

- A. Ashis Kumar. 7th Std. Sri Kalabhyraveswara High School, Kanakapura, (KARNATAKA)

Ans:mbition was to work in an area which has something to do with flying. I was motivated by my fifth class teacher Shri Siva Subramania Iyer, who taught me through practical examples, how birds fly.

15) Dear Sir, If we all learn only Science and Technology who will teach us the Moral Values and Cultural Heritage which is being ignored in our Country since many years?

- Sudha Sadiya. 10th Std.?C? Adichunchanagiri Composite High School, Sharavathy Nagar, Shimoga, (KARNATAKA)

Ans: Our civilizational heritage is spread in the rural area constituting 700 million people. That is how a joint family system, which takes care of great grand parents and grand parents as a useful part of the families. Also in villages you can see the people of various religions having beautiful connectivity, helpful attitude and love affection for one another. This beautiful fabric of unity can be further enhanced by having a weekly one hour moral science class by reputed social thinkers, scientists, religious leaders etc. upto 10+2 level. Young people when they come out of such institutions will enable promotion of value based society.

I would like to recall my student days in St. Josephs College, Trichy. We used to have a moral science class taught by Rev Father Rector. He was the highest in the hierarchy of the Jesuit teaching system. He used to teach us one hour every week about great spiritual leaders, religious leaders, renowned scientists and above all good human beings in the society. I am convinced that what I learnt in that class of moral science stands by me even today. Introduction of such courses called "Elevate the Young Minds" in the schools and colleges at least once in a week and discuss the great personalities from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and other religions. In addition, it can include the discussion on great human beings such as Confucius, Buddha, St. Augustine, Kalifa Omar, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and moral stories linked to our civilizational heritage. Interspersed with melodious music such as that of Rabindra Sangeet and from other languages of India and world, it will truly elevate the spirit of young minds much as Gurudev would have expected.

16)Dear Sir, What is the role of students to stop corruption which is deeply rooted in our county just like cancer!

- M.Bhavani. 10th Std.?C? Adichunchanagiri Composite High School,Sharavathy Nagar, Shimoga, (KARNATAKA)

Ans: Home generates enlightened citizens. If such an evolution does not take place, difficult situation arises as we are witnessing. Eradication of corruption in public life requires a movement and this movement has to start from home and school. Only three people can help in eradicating corruption. They are father, mother and primary school teacher. If they inculcate righteousness among the youth nobody can change them in their later life. Hence we need this movement in all our homes for eradicating corruption in public life. Dear students, I would like all of you start a movement starting from your home. You have a great tool in your hand that is love and affection towards your parents. Use love and affection and set your home as a righteous home.

Now I would like to share with you a beautiful divine hymn about righteousness. It reads as follows: Where there is righteousness in the heart,

There is beauty in the character.

When there is beauty in the character,

there is harmony in the home.

When there is harmony in the home,

There is order in the nation.

When there is order in the nation,

There is peace in the world.

It is a beautiful connectivity between heart, character, nation and the world. In a society we have to build righteousness among all its constituents. For the society as a whole to be righteous we need creation of righteousness in family, righteousness in education, righteousness in service, righteousness in career, righteousness in business & industry, righteousness in civil administration, righteousness in politics, righteousness in government, righteousness in law and order, righteousness in justice. In addition to righteousness in multiple dimensions in the society, indomitable spirit is essential for realizing the vision of developed India.

17)Respected Sir, You are saying ?Within 20years, India will be a strong Nation in the world?. On what basis you are dreaming of this?

- Srinivasa, 10th Std. J.B.S Residential School for the Blind Archakarahalli, Ramanagram (KARNATAKA)

Ans: Infrastructure development like networking of rivers it may take minimum 20 years, establishing the PURA complexes for our 600,000 villages to provide sustainable rural development will also take time. Another alternative is we may achieve this by 2050, if we are not focused in our mission, but by that time you will be old and crossed above 70 years age. Better as a young citizen achieve it before 2020.

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