Address at the Presentation of the Publication Brought Out by Information Department, Dehradun

How can I contribute for a Happy and Prosperous Uttaranchal

I am delighted to meet the Secretaries to the Government of Uttaranchal and receive the book containing the articles about new ideas brought in, in the newly created State. I greet all the Secretaries and other specialists of the Govt of Uttaranchal and congratulate for their contribution in bringing out this innovative document. Particularly, I liked the innovative steps taken by Dr. Umakant Panwar of the Department of Health and family welfare of Introducing Mobile Health Units for overcoming the problems of people living in remote areas. Also the e-Payroll system and computerization of property registration through internet, introduced by Ms. Radha Raturi is noteworthy. I was thinking what should I discuss with you today at this important event and I have selected the topic for discussion: "How can I contribute for a Happy and Prosperous Uttaranchal."

Our National Mission - Challenges

Our nation is going through a major challenge of uplifting of 260 million people who are below the poverty line. They need habitat, they need food, they need health care, and they need education and employment finally resulting in a good life. Our GDP is growing at more than 6-7% per annum. Whereas, the economists suggest that to uplift the people below poverty line, our economy has to grow at the rate of 10% per annum consistently, for over a decade.

Integrated Action for Development

To meet the needs of one billion people whose number will further increase, we have a mission of transforming India into a developed nation. We have identified five areas where India has core competencies 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 when effectively addressed, would lead to food, economic, energy and national security.

Engines for Growth

Emphasis should be on full utilization of natural and human resources of the region to meet the demands of the modern society. We should also remember that about 50% of our population is young people, with aspirations for a better life. Value addition to Agriculture, Manufacturing and Service sectors of the economy, building on the regions' core competencies and technologies, will lead to high income growth rate and employment potential. The engines for growth will be launching of the five national missions viz. water, energy, education and skills, infrastructure and employment generation, which will enable achievement of 10% GDP growth rate per annum, sustainable for a minimum period of ten years. Developed States result in developed India. Uttaranchal is in the ascending phase of India's development trajectory.

Uttaranchal is a unique state located in altitude ranging from 3000 meters to 7000 mtrs above sea level. 13 districts of the state can be grouped into three geographical regions, the High mountain region, the Mid-mountain region and the Terai region. This land is unique where the Vedas and Shastras were composed and great Indian epic, The Mahabharatha, was written. These names are familiar names of the epic when you travel from Rishikesh to Badrinath. The state is rich in natural resources especially water and forests as it has many glaciers, rivers, forests, mountain peaks. Uttaranchal has 15700 villages. This is a unique situation, which needs the programme like PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) for integrated development.

Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA)

Uttranchal and its regions require a unique PURA concept due to its terrain. I would recommend creation of a total of 70 PURA units. This will provide four critical connectivities between villages located in different altitudes enabling accelerated economic growth: physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity, leading to economic connectivity. I shall describe these in some detail.

Essential Connectivities these are: Physical connectivity of village clusters through quality roads and transport wherever possible keeping in view the terrain condition; difficult places may have to be connected through innovative rope ways. In the long run this will become economically viable. It is essential to build in safety features even if they increase initial and operational cost. Electronic connectivity through tele-communication with high bandwidth fiber optic cables reaching the rural areas from cities and through internet kiosks; Knowledge connectivity through education, skills training for farmers, artisans and craftsmen and entrepreneurship programmes. These three connectives will lead to Economic connectivity through starting of new enterprises with the help of banks, micro credits and marketing of the products. The integrated method envisages a mission mode empowered management structure with executive powers at the local implementation levels and by reducing the transactional costs through simplification of procedures of governance.

Creating such village clusters through PURA depending upon the region and population will cost about Rs 100 crores per cluster. A single PURA will have the potential to provide employment for 3000 to 4000 people directly and nearly 8,000 people indirectly. This has to be done by creating new market driven enterprises brought in by investors. If the industrial areas particularly agro processing, special hill specific natural products (with value addition) and high value artisanal products and corporate hospitals are marketed well, they can attract investors and thus lead to local wealth generation. Corporate hospitals can also promote health tourism and provide added employment to local people. I would suggest each PURA to become a tourist centre keeping in view the special tourist attraction of the place in mind. Also each PURA can have at least one state-of-the-art corporate hospital providing complementary support to health tourism. I have come across such a hospital in Parumala in Kerala, which has established state of art facilities for heart care and it is attracting large number of tourists from Middle East and Europe. Such value addition will also generate high value employment in tourism and medical sectors. In addition, we need to promote entrepreneurship in the rural areas and equip people with skills for their own self-employment, meeting the needs of modern economy and society. Some of these persons may also turn out to be innovators and employment generators. Realizing this development needs large numbers of creative leaders.

Conclusion: Creative Leadership

I would like to discuss the relationship between the economic development, technology and industries and the leadership.

Nation's Economic development is powered by competitiveness.

The competitiveness is powered by knowledge power.

The knowledge power is powered by Technology and innovation.

The Technology and innovation is powered by resource investment.

The Resource investment is powered by revenue and return on Investment.

The Revenue is powered by volume and repeat sales through customer loyalty.

The customer loyalty is powered by Quality and value of products.

Quality and value of products is powered by Employee Productivity and innovation.

The Employee Productivity is powered by Employee Loyalty, employee satisfaction and working environment.

The Working Environment is powered by management stewardship and sound project management.

Management stewardship is powered by creative leadership.

Who is that creative leader? What are the qualities of a creative leader? The creative leadership is exercising the task to change the traditional role from commander to coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self respect. After meeting you I realize that Uttaranchal has large numbers of creative leaders who fulfill these characteristics.

My best wishes to all of you in your mission of making Uttaranchal a prosperous, happy and safe state.
May God bless you.