| Address to the participants of Chintan Shivir |
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| A Profile of Developed Gujarat | |
"Thinking provides knowledge
Knowledge makes you great"
I am delighted to be here in Kutch and to have the opportunity to address and interact with the participants of the Chintan Shivir 2009. I would like to suggest a few areas of thoughts for your consideration for further accelerating the socio-economic development of the state before the year 2020:
1. As a state where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. As a state where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.
3. As a State where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
4. As a State where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. As a State which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors.
6. As a State where the best of health care is available to all.
7. As a State where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.
8. As a State that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
9. As a State that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership. |
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I am sure that for many of the above thoughts, you would already be in the process of implementation and others you may like to put into action. |
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| As you all know, I am taking a course at IIMA for nearly 100 students for the past two years. I had an additional program this year at IIMA to address the Confluence 2009 where about 600 participants from multiple management schools had gathered to listen to specialists in 27 disciplines. The topic I discussed was: Sustainable Development Models. In the course of my lecture, I asked the students "How many of you will join multinationals, how many will join political systems and how many will join administrative services?" I did not get many responses to any of these questions. Then I asked "How many of you, from the management schools would like to transform into entrepreneurs?" To my happiness and surprise I found almost 500 students of the 600 students present, saying that they wanted to become entrepreneurs. This means that they will become employment generators. Such entrepreneurial interest in the youth is indeed a good sign for the nation and also a tribute to Gujarat, where an entrepreneurial culture is inherent among the youth. I want to stress to every member of this Chintan Shivir that you have a great opportunity to make the aspirations and dreams of the people of Gujarat become a reality. All of you present here at Chintan Shivir 2009, may like to share with other members, one unique aspect or experience that made a big change in your task. This can be discussed in one the sessions. Definitely such an important gathering has the potential to bring a change in the thinking and action of the entire state.
My greetings to all of you and to all the citizens of Gujarat on this occasion. | |
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| What worked yesterday, will not work today | |
| The world in the 21st century will be a knowledge based society with multiple opportunities naturally in India and Gujarat and we have to become knowledge driven. I was studying a book, "Empires of the Mind" by Denis Waitley. This book gives what type of the new world which we are facing now? What was yesterday and what is today. I have modified certain points of the author to suit the discussions of today. I have also added a third line which relates to action of Governance. The book specially says that "what worked yesterday, won't work today". |
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| Profile of Gujarat transforming into a Knowledge Society | |
Yesterday - natural resources defined power
Today - knowledge is power
Governance should empower knowledge
2. Yesterday - Hierarchy was the model
Today- synergy is the mandate
Governance will be enabler for intersection of multiple faculties towards mission goals
3. Yesterday - leaders commanded and controlled
Today - leaders empower and coach
Governance will empower Potential Leaders through exposure to the needs of sustainable development
4. Yesterday - shareholders came first
Today - customers come first
Governance should inculcate sensitivity to citizen's needs
5. Yesterday - employees took order
Today - teams make decision
Governance will enable teams to make decisions
6. Yesterday - seniority signified status
Today - creativity drives status
Governance will be judged by innovation and results
7. Yesterday - production determined availability
Today - Competitiveness is the key
Governance has to create cooperative competitiveness
8. Yesterday - value was extra
Today - value is everything
Governance priority is to inculcate value addition at every level
9. Yesterday - everyone was a competitor
Today - everyone is a customer
One vital tool of governance is citizen feedback and action based on that
10. Yesterday - profits were earned through expediency
Today - Work with integrity and succeed with integrity.
Governance will be judged by the extent of working and succeeding with integrity
The participants of the Chintan Shivir may like to discuss where we are in every aspect of the knowledge society components. | |
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| Gujarat: Growth | |
| Endowed with a spirit of entrepreneurship, the state has made significant progress in many areas including agriculture and I am happy to see the vision 2020 evolve in the state. I have also been told by many Gujarat citizens that when it is a matter of development, Gujarat has a characteristic where members belonging to the ruling and opposition, collaborate. I looked at the planning commission development statistics and other reports related to Gujarat. Gujarat has only 5% of India's population and 6% of its geographical area, but its contribution to India in terms of exports is 16% and in terms of stock market capitalization it is 30%. The state has over 3 lac small scale units, over 2200 large and medium industries, 182 industrial estates and 33 Special Economic Zones making it one of the most industrialized states of India. The contribution of the workforce of the Gujarat has also been instrumental in the progress of the state. Gujarat has a 16.2% share in India's industrial production whereas the percentage of man-days lost in Gujarat due to labor strife is just 0.5% - which is the lowest in the country. Gujarat accounts for 54% of India's onshore crude oil production and 50% of India's natural gas production. | |
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| A Vision | |
| With such a growth oriented environment, Gujarat should set itself a Vision 2020 of taking the per capita income to over Rs.100,000 at constant price of 1990-2000. It should augment literacy to 100% and reduce the IMR to less than 10 per thousand and completely eliminate extreme poverty and unemployment.
As I studied your development requirements along with your potential, I would like to give my suggestions with respect to two missions:
1. Agriculture
2. Gujarat PURA Mission | |
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| Gujarat Agriculture | |
| I was studying the figures for agriculture in Gujarat which has been consistently growing over 9% per annum, more than 3 times the national average. I had a discussion with the experts at Center for Management at IIM Ahmedabad about the methodologies through which such an impressive performance was achieved. A document, "Frontiers of Agricultural Development in Gujarat" prepared by them brings out the reasons for increased productivity as:
1. Reforms in the rural electrification by setting up a dedicated grid for rural applications
2. Creation of large number of farm ponds and connecting, de-silting and recharging the water bodies | |
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| Of course, with the increase in agricultural produce, stability of the price has been managed by opening export of agricultural produce. This experience in increasing the agricultural production is very important in the national context and I suggest this conclave to discuss how this experience of Gujarat can be spread among other states. | |
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| The challenge in front of the state's agriculture is to continue this upward trend even in the years of unfavorable weather and market conditions. First green revolution was realized in the country through a combination of political vision, scientific leadership and farmer's initiatives and collaboration. The conclave may specifically find how the combined power of various specialists can double agricultural output in the state with less water, less land and less manpower using technology and improved processes. The ultimate aim must be how to increase the earning capacity of the farmers. Agriculture and value addition through food processing have to be seen as an integrated system. | |
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| Gujarat agriculture should also follow an integrated plan of increasing the extent of the irrigation coverage by realizing the irrigation potential to the fullest. This should be simultaneously accompanied by infusion of better and conservation technologies in irrigation which will help prevent the decline of the ground water, accounting for more than the 85% of the total irrigation sources. Similarly, the surface water conservation and harvesting needs to be encouraged at decentralized levels to help recharge the ground water. Gujarat has more than 4.6 million hectares of cultivable waste and barren land which equal to half of the total sown area. This un-utilized land can be made economically productive by evolving and implementing a Jatropha mission for the state of Gujarat. This mission can even convert alkaline soil into good soil in a time of few years. This Gujarat Jatropha Mission in 4.6 million hectares has the potential to create more than 4 million job equivalent in the rural and wasteland areas of the state. This mission will have the potential to generate almost 10 million tonnes of bio-diesel per year from the fifth year onwards. This will enable the state to evolve green-energy independent villages where the women will not use kerosene for cooking leading to better healthcare especially in the poorer and remote areas. Simultaneously, the state can also work on development of Algae in saline and water logged area which is more than 1 million hectares in the state. This area can generate even higher quantum of bio-diesel compared to Jatropa cultivation and at a faster rate.
I will now talk about the Gujarat PURA mission. | |
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| Gujarat PURA Mission | |
When a state's growth is driven by fast changing technologies, one must ensure the participation of every citizen and region of the state without causing any technology, digital or economic divide. One of the solutions for ensuring the sustained and integrated development is PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas). PURA calls for three connectivities; physical connectivity, electronic connectivity and knowledge connectivity leading to economic connectivity.
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| 1. The villages must be connected with in themselves and with main towns and metros through by good roads and wherever needed by railway lines. They must have other infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and amenities for the local population and the visitors. This is physical connectivity.
2. In the emerging knowledge era, the native knowledge has to be preserved and enhanced with latest tools of technology, training and research. The villages have to have access to good education from best teachers wherever they are, must have the benefit of good medical treatment, and must have latest information on their pursuits like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and food processing. That means they have to have electronic connectivity.
3. Once the Physical and Electronic connectivity are enabled, the knowledge connectivity is enabled. That can facilitate the ability increase the productivity, the utilization of spare time, awareness of health welfare, ensuring a market for products, increasing quality consciousness, interacting with partners, getting the best equipment, increasing transparency and so in general knowledge connectivity
4. Once the three connectivities - Physical, Electronic and knowledge connectivity are ensured, they facilitate increased employment potential and earning capacity. Thereby we can lead to upliftment of rural areas, we can attract investors, we can introduce effectively useful systems like Rural BPOs, Micro Finance Systems and increase in micro, small and medium industries based on local competencies. | |
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| The state of Gujarat with its more than 18000 villages and more than 3 crores rural population (total population 5.5 crore) has a tremendous potential for the implementation of an integrated state wide PURA Mission which would connect the rural Gujarat with the four levels of connectivities. Gujarat should build a vision to establish 400 PURAs to cover all the rural regions of the state in a phased manner. There are four types of PURAs, Coastal PURA, Hill PURA, Desert PURA and Plain Terrain PURA and Gujarat has the potential for each of these types in different areas. | |
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| The excellent physical connectivity which the state has already achieved in terms of roads and electricity would provide an excellent platform for the implementation of PURA. The entrepreneurial energy of the people of Gujarat should also be channelized in creating common state-wide PURA brands which would ensure marketing of quality products and services originating out of the rural regions.
Now I will discuss two examples from the potential PURAs which can be implemented in the state of Gujarat. | |
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| Dangs PURAs | |
The first model would be the evolution of Hill PURAs in the Dangs District of South Gujarat. These PURA complexes need to focus extensively on creation of economic assets and income sources in the form of forest products which cover 59% of the total area in the district.
To facilitate such an economic reform the Dangs PURA complexes would have to begin with the creation of electronic connectivity in the region and facilitate the knowledge transfer which can enable the local population to be equipped with necessary skills in processing forest products. The forests of Dangs, with all its medicinal plants, also provide a great opportunity for pharma industry which can flourish in the region. Medicinal resources such as Marda-singi, Baheda, Sag, Khakro and Umbero which are found in abundance in the region can be linked with the molecular research laboratories which can establish the optimal uses for them so that the local population can derive the best benefit out of them and also export them as a source of revenue. Dangs PURAs would also have to focus on customization of the agriculture practices according to the local area. The sloped terrain found in Dangs necessitates that crops be customized accordingly. There are two ways to achieve this as a part of establishing the knowledge connectivity in the area. Firstly, agro research institutes should work in water retention methodologies, enhancing productivity and value addition possible to the local crops, like Ragi, which are suitable for such hilly terrain. Secondly, conventional crops like paddy cultivation can also be customized, both by seed modification and through special farming practices, to suit the local terrain. Another area which Dangs PURAs should look at is the development of Dangs as a center for eco-tourism and medicinal tourism. This can be focused in the Saputara area of the district which well known for its diverse forest wealth. |
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| For achieving economic connectivity one key human capital which can be incubated for implementation of these PURAs would be the training of tribal youth to take up multiple responsibilities in the PURA. The Dangs PURA should also focus on developing socio-ecological needs of the people and the region. Being a hilly terrain covered with forest the need to conserve the ecosystem, is indeed a high priority. Almost all the water supply in the area is through underground sources. This necessitates a focus on the conservation of water through well planned water bodies for capturing the rain water that will help recharging the underground water reserves.
Dangs PURA complexes should further work on increasing the literacy level of the district from the current 59% to at least 80% in the next five years. Special focus is needed for women literacy which currently is around 48%. | |
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| Kutch PURAs | |
| The second model of PURA I would like to discuss with all of you is the idea of Kutch Coastal PURAs. Kutch is the second largest district in the country with a long coastline. The Kutch PURAs should come about as a joint venture between the state government, prominent industries present in the area and local academic institutions.
Kutch is a region which is rich in natural resources like minerals and has an access to the sea. The Kutch PURA Mission should set itself the goal of augmenting the income levels of the local people by 3 times in the next 5 years. It should also set itself the target of increasing the literacy rate from the current 60% to at least 80% in the five year period and reduce the IMR/MMR and malnutrition to 50% of the current figure. Let me now discuss how this can be achieved. | |
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| Kutch has about 12 ITIs already present. These can be excellent centers of customized learning. Each ITI should select 2-3 core competencies to focus on, depending the local needs and resource profile of the area. The engineering and management colleges in the region can also play a significant role in the developing the local rural population. Students of these professional studies can each pick up 10 families from the rural regions and as an internship or a suitably designed course closely monitor and counsel these families towards adapting better technologies, removing social biases and generate awareness towards health, sanitation, education and about the possible schemes they can avail for their development. These student volunteers will play the role of taking the PURA mission of Kutch to the rural people and thereby facilitate community participation in the process. Moreover, the exposure which the students get would enable them to find practical and ground level applications for the technologies they are trained in. | |
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| Kutch is very rich in its traditional handicrafts and the Kutch PURA complexes should have distinct vision to capitalize on this skill. For this purpose, there has to be just in-time and match-to-market operations with an in-depth understanding of sales of such products in Indian and international markets. This task can be entrusted to the management graduates as a summer project. Kutch area will be an ideal setting for creating Product based PURAs with a focus to maximize value to the final output. Such handicraft enterprises must be aggregated along the lines of the type of prominent handicraft likeAari, Ahir, Pak-ko, Neran, Kam-bira and Chopat. These can also be an excellent opportunity for adding technology for increasing the productivity and aesthetics of the product. | |
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| The richness in mineral resources like lignite, bauxite and limestone has helped Kutch emerge as an attractive center for industrial investments. These investments not only bring in an opportunity of generating jobs for the local people but they also forge an interface to bridge technological gaps which may exist in the region. These industrial setups can also invest in the social infrastructure of the region – like schools, water works, agro development and healthcare facilities. An example of this is Sanghi Cement, which has setup a 5000 cubic meter desalination plant which helps quality drinking water be made accessible to 83 villages in the area. Various industries present in the Kutch region should consider taking up the PURA Mission in coordination with the government. | |
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| Kutch, being a place with scarcity of fresh and potable water, would need a special attention over this issue. The Kutch PURA complexes should strive for innovative ways to find ways plug the demand-supply gap for the fresh water. This can come about by augmenting the supply by setting up desalination and recycling plants using solar energy. With 587 millimeters of annual rain, a focussed effort on rain water harvesting and creation water bodies fed by the rain water should be pursued in great vigor. Entrepreneurs and PPP ventures should be encouraged in this field with policy incentives. Thus 2/3rd of the demand-supply gap should be met with by increasing the supply. At the same time, the community should be trained and industry encouraged in conserving and recycling water at their individual or institutional level. Irrigation methods like drip irrigation should be incentivized. Thus, by reducing the demand, the remaining 1/3rd of the gap should be addressed. | |
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| Kutch has a long coastline of about 350 kms giving it a direct access into the sea. This gives it an excellent opportunity to focus on maritime and fishing sector. Let me share an experience from a small country in northern Europe called Iceland. Iceland is about 1 lakh km square in area. It has developed one of best fishing industries in the world with the use of modern fishing boats and best practices in maritime industry and it is known for high per capita income in Europe. It has invested in about 330 modern trawlers, which are equipped to catch, process, package and market the marine products in the sea. Kutch has a got a tremendous potential for mid-sea fishing. The processing, marketing other than mid-sea sales can be done through coastal PURAs. | |
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| Innovative Policies for Environmental Sustainability | Solar Power Mission: It is important that implementation of all these initiatives is done in a sustainable manner which would require many policy innovations. Let me share a thought for green energy in this regard. A study of the Solar Energy system by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy indicates existence of incentives for banks, microfinance institutions and individuals for promoting the use of solar energy in the household and other institutions. To enhance the utilization of these incentives Gujarat Government can pioneer a proactive action to provide solar panels free of cost or at very nominal cost to every household at the time of installation. The charges can be levied as utilization fees spread over time based on the prevailing electricity consumption pattern of the household. Such an initiative will not only help in addressing the problem of climate change, but also create an avenue for job creation through small scale industries based on installation, servicing and maintenance of the solar panels. | |
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| Tree Plantation: Similarly, Gujarat may look into how it can conserve the forest cover and increase the trees through community action. Each mature tree, every year, absorbs almost 20 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere and gives almost 14.5 kg of Oxygen by the process of photosynthesis. I have an idea where every citizen of the country should plant 10 trees each and nurture them. This movement can potentially increase the tree cover of the nation by 10 billion trees in the near future. Gujarat can pioneer such a tree plantation and conservation movement and realize the plantation of 600 million trees in the next 5 years across the entire state. These innovative strategies will make Gujarat to become a green and environmentally conscious state. | |
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| Fly Ash as a Source of Wealth: I am happy to know that, in order to energize the economic growth, Gujarat is planning major investments in the power sector, especially around the region of Kutch. Some of these plants are based on green sources like solar; while others are dependent of coal as their primary fuel. As you are aware, the use of coal for power generation results in increased quantum of fly ash production. All out efforts are needed to utilize this fly ash not only from environmental considerations, but also to avoid land usage for fly ash dumping. It is reported that the agricultural increase of grains is around 15%, green vegetables 35% and root vegetables 50%, when fly ash is mixed with the soil with any risk of toxicity. The fly ash can become a wealth generator by making use of it as agriculture fertilizers and producing "green building" materials and even roads. The fly ash utilization is an employment generator and at full utilization it can provide a huge business volume for the state. | |
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| I think that Thought Camps such as this are a great opportunity to facilitate the exchange of ideas, innovations, horizontal learning, and culmination of best practices and ultimately come out with a realization plan for achieving the vision for the future in a sustainable and inclusive manner. | |
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| Creative Leadership | |
| When I am in Gujarat, I am reminded of two great personalities who have made immense contribution for building our nation. One is Mahatma Gandhi, who practiced Ahimsa Dharma for realizing independence for not only India but many nations in the world. | |
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| While talking about Mahatma Gandhiji, I am reminded of the advice given to Mahatma Gandhi by his mother when he was nine years old. She says,"Son, in your entire life time, if you can save or better someone's life, your birth as a human being and your life is a success. You have the blessing of the Almighty God". This advice has made a deep impact in the mind of Gandhiji, which made him to work for the humanity throughout his life.
Second name which comes to my mind is Sardar Patel who was responsible for integration of the nation for development during the beginning of post independent India. Sardar Patel had given a unique leadership in firm decision-making and shaping the decisions to time bound actions. Sardar Patel's is hailed as the Iron Man of India who is also remembered as the "Patron Saint" of India's civil servants for establishing modern all-India services. Patel was also one of the earliest proponents of property rights and free enterprise in India.
The present generation leadership, I am sure, will build on the contribution made by such leaders and ensure that Gujarat is always in the growth path. | |
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| Friends, I believe Gujarat has gained a lot of experiences in progressing various programs with unique leadership qualities. I have seen three dreams which have taken shape as vision, mission and realization. Space programme of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), AGNI programme of DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) and PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) becoming the National Mission. Of course, these three programmes succeeded in the midst of many challenges and problems. I have worked in all these three areas. I want to convey to you what I have learnt on leadership from these three programmes:
1. Leader must have a vision.
2. Leader must have a passion to transform the vision into action.
3. Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path.
4. Leader must know how to manage a success and failure.
5. Leader must have courage to take decision.
6. Leader should have Nobility in management.
7. Every action of the leader should be transparent.
8. Leader must work with integrity and succeed with integrity. | |
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| For success in all the Gujarat development missions you have inspire a number of creative leaders at all levels. Creative leadership means exercising the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect. For a prosperous and developed Gujarat and India, the important thrust will be on the generation of a number of creative leaders through development missions. | |
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| Conclusion | |
| Few years back when I used to meet youth the question used to be, "when will I live in an India which is developed? In the next phase they used to ask, "What can I do for developed India?" But now the sentiment resonating among the youth is "I can do, we can do, India can do". The thought leaders of the chintan shivir may keep this energy of the youth in planning and execution of your activities for developed Gujarat.
Finally before concluding, let me reflect one question children and elders ask me, "When there are so many important missions and projects in front of us, why a lot of time is wasted in trivial issues? How can we develop a peaceful and prosperous state and healthy relations for achieving that? What comes to my mind is a hymn, which we often hear in our spiritual places. | |
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| Righteousness
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 an order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There is peace in the world.
I wish you all success in your missions of making Gujarat a socio-economically developed and peaceful state.
May God bless you and the people of Gujarat. | |
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