Youth should be a part of development politics: APJ Abdul Kalam

“I want you to be a part of development politics which will ensure the state’s growth and development,” said former president and eminent scientist APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday.

He was addressing students at the first Parliament of Indian Student Council Leaders at MIT School of Government. He was speaking on ‘India: The Super Power’. He said 70% of the political leaders focus only on politics while the others are into developmental politics. “Developmental politics will help reduce the rural-urban divide,” he said.

There are 10 issues that the country must address to fulfil Vision 2020. These issues include equitable distribution of water and power, making industry, agriculture and service sector work in symphony, meritorious students not denied education on the basis of the status, healthcare, poverty, illiteracy and crimes against women and children, he added.

“Every youth wants to be unique. But the world is doing the best to make the youth like ‘everybody’ else. The challenge here is how to know what we are and what best we can do,” said Kalam, who wants students to be the part of Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (Pura).

“The Union government has envisaged the aims of Pura which will cover 7,000 crore people in 6,000 villages. I want the youth to join this movement,” he said.

In the second session, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar speaking on ‘India vs Bharat: Urban Divide and its spiritual contribution’ said the youth should be in touch with their roots.
“One generation has given us freedom from the British. But the other has ruined that freedom. The challenge is to win back this freedom,” he said.

“Today, 30% of the Europeans are under mental stress. I want India to be known for its gross domestic happiness (GDH) rather than for its gross domestic product (GDP). Domestic happiness is necessary for a happy country,” he added.