By IANS
New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Monday stressed that progressive reduction in poverty in the country was the best indicator of growth and improvement in quality of life.
"The progressive reduction from 220 million people who are at present living below poverty line to near zero by 2020 by increasing their quality of life in terms of food, shelter, water, energy, infrastructure, education and health will be the indicators of growth," Kalam said while inaugurating the India Development Marketplace (IDM)-2007 organised by the World Bank here.
He said the social status and civilizational heritage of societies are considered important components for integrated development. In this respect, the adoption of the value system derived from the civilizational heritage in every walk of life is unique in India.
The president said that in the last seven years the National Innovative Foundation (NIF) had identified a number of innovative practices, which have led to over 100 patents including few international patents. What is important is that innovative practices and products have been generated at the grass-roots level without any external assistance.
He suggested that the World Bank could study these innovative practices and select a few that have potential to make a change in the life of rural people. This approach would facilitate solutions for rural problems keeping the local conditions in mind.