By IANS,
Shillong : Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha K. Sangma Friday called for a balanced economy wherein wealth is equitably distributed rather than being concentrated amongst a handful.
Sangma, during an interaction with students of the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong at the “E-Summit 2012: Inclusive Growth Conclave” here, said the B-school students must formulate new business models to encourage a balanced economy.
She urged the students to strive to formulate such models so that the socio-economic development reaches out to people at the micro-level in a deviation from the present skewed scenario.
“What is required at this juncture is doing away with road blocks and moving towards an innovation-led growth that is inclusive and more importantly sustainable,” she stated.
On the northeast, Sangma said efforts must be taken to develop new initiatives that are suitable under local conditions, adding, the lack of opportunity in the region could be due to various historical and geographical reasons, which has to be tackled now.
She said that in this endeavour, local entrepreneurs must be encouraged to ensure economic development in the region. “The region is in need of budding entrepreneurs who would utilize untapped resources that are abundant in the region,” Sangma said.
She also drew attention to women’s issues in the region. She said that women in the region were lagging behind their counterparts from the rest of the country on many socio-economic parameters.
“There is a need to look for inclusive growth of women, especially in the rural and interior parts of the country,” Sangma said.