India readying a roadmap for knowledge society Officiali

Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's statement in Indian Parliament has allayed all apprehensions about the nuclear agreement between the United States and India, stated a top Indian official. "India will not compromise its sovereignty under any circumstances and New Delhi has reached the deal with Washington on its own terms," claimed M Veerappa Moily, Chairman, Administrative Reforms Commission, government of India, here on Thursday.

The Indo-US nuclear agreement has raised a storm in and outside Indian parliament and the opposition and left parties had attacked the United People's Alliance (UPA) government alleging that the deal would jeopardise the country's future nuclear programme. Even some scientists had also voiced concerns about the deal pointing to some of the potential risks involved in it.

Talking to journalists on his arrival in Kuwait from India, Moily, said, "The prime minister's statement has cleared all doubts regarding the deal and today all people in the country are convinced that the deal poses no threat to the country's interests."

Answering a question regarding the controversial 'affirmative action plan' for reservation of other backward communities (OBCs), Moily said the announcement has led to a lot of protests from the anti-reservation lobby in the country.

"The government is not bulldozing any decision. On the contrary, it seeks to evolve a consensus on a comprehensive reservation policy. We have called meetings of representatives from different segments such as engineering, medical, technology, agriculture and others concerned. Following the meetings, the government has prepared an interim report which addresses all the issues raised by these sections. Similarly, the government is ready to offer solutions to all their problems, be it financial, faculty-related or infrastructure. As the head of the oversight committee, Moily will submit a final report on the subject soon, he said.

"A paradigm shift has taken place in the government's approach towards information technology following the burgeoning demand for talent managers, IT engineers, IT products and services both domestically and globally. As a result, India has put Indian institutions on a roadmap to reach out the global brand equity," he said.

Moily, who is also a general secretary of the ruling Congress party, said the government is evolving a comprehensive education policy with a thrust on primary and secondary education. Moily said he would present a comprehensive roadmap to build a knowledge society in the country. "If you don't create a knowledge society, then there is no way the country can be competitive in the global society," he said.

He presented a rosy picture of the Indian economy which he said was growing at a rate of 8 per cent and could still go up to 10 per cent. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow into the country has registered quantum leap as the country has become a very attractive destination for foreign investors. Fiscal deficits are well under control. Domestic manufacturing sector is vibrant and agriculture sector is witnessing a second green revolution, he claims.

Asked as to why still many people remained below the poverty line in the country despite such a dynamic growth, he said, development must be complimented with social justice.

Answering a specific question regarding corruption, red tape and bureaucratic hurdles rampant in many government offices in India, especially in the offices of the ministry of Human Resource Development, the ministry of External Affairs, he said his commission would soon present a reform package for implementation, which will tackle the question of ethics in governance and other issues. The government is expected to act on a fast-track basis on his report on administrative reforms, he said.

Regarding the child labour that is still prevalent in the country, Moily said, the government has enacted a comprehensive legislation to abolish the practice which will plug all the loopholes that existed in the previous law.

Moily arrived in Kuwait to attend a function organised by Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) yesterday. A K Chandehoke, First Secretary, Indian Embassy was also present during the meeting.