Private & Public Sector Should Work Together For Development Of Villages, Says Pranab Mukherjee
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee laid the foundation stone of a Driver's Training Institute and a Secondary School under the SMARTGRAM Initiative at village Dhaula, Gurugram (Haryana) on 2 June.
Three new Pradhan MantriKaushalKendras (PMKKs) at Mahendragarh, Ambala and Palwal were also inaugurated.
The President highlighted the significance of villages in the country. He said that the villages have the capacity to develop and they are eager for development. "If we keep moving ahead in this manner, the day is not far when our youth would not need to leave villages for cities in search of better avenues." The President said.
The President highlighted if we want our villages to prosper we need to improve the structure of the economy. With the help of Haryana Government, RashtrapatiBhavan selected five villages and many initiatives were taken for their development. Keeping in view the success achieved in the five villages, the program has now been extended to 100 villages.
"Success in SMARTGRAM initiative is possible only when the Government, private sector, academic institutions, NGOs and people in the villages come together for the development of villages." Said Pranab Mukherjee.
Praful Naik, Director & CEO Prashak Techno Enterprises, who coined the term SMARTGRAM in mid-2015 and also envisioned the concept of sustainable rural community. This thought of PrafulNaik was supported by RashtrapatiBhavan for this social innovation.
Talking to BW Businessworld, Naik said, "In the era where breakthrough technology developments have led to automation, mechanisation and job cuts, the passion for the reverse theme of technology development with the people-centric approach on enabling its effective use for and by the masses has got realised and recognised."
He added, "I dedicate it to the billions of fellow beings at the bottom of the pyramid. Not all such passions or innovations are as fortunate and the credit goes to the amazing team at the RashtrapatiBhavan."
Prof.Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana, ManoharLal, Chief Minister of Haryana, Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS (IC) for Planning and Urban Development, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, MoS (IC) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, MoS (IC) for Petroleum & Natural Gas also present at the event.
