Naidu calls corruption biggest hurdle to inclusive growth

Shashank Shekhar

Ranchi ( Jharkhand) : The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on February 16, 2020, said that corruption is biggest hurdle to inclusive growth and called upon the youth to support those who are fighting to eradicate the malice of corruption from the country.

Interacting with public policy students at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre for Leadership, Policy, and Governance of the Indian Institute of Management at Ranchi, Jharkhand, Naidu said that corruption deepens inequalities, increases poverty, and obstructs the growth prospects of the nation. Asking the youth to take a lead role in fighting corruption,Naidu suggested the use of new technologies to bring transparency and accountability at all levels.

Naidu expressed happiness that the government is connecting all Gram Panchayats with high speed broadband under the project – Bharatnet. Emphasising on good governance, he said that there should be no gap between policy intent and policy implementation. “The intended benefits of a programme must reach the people in time,” he said.

Calling students as future leaders of the nations, Naidu asked them to find innovative solutions to country’s problems such as illiteracy, poverty, malnutrition etc. He called the current slowdown in economy as temporary and exuded confidence that India is well on path to become a five trillion-dollar economy. Appreciating the government for bold reforms such as GST, IBC etc., Naidu stated that these bold reform measures will lead to long term gains for the economy and people.

Stressing on  inclusive growth, he said that development should reach every person. Only then it has meaning, he added. “Each citizen should feel that he is a stakeholder in development journey of the nation,” he said. Asking students to become ‘smart leaders’ of tomorrow, he said that the true leadership is characterised by 4Cs – Character, Capacity, Caliber, and Conduct. He asked students to innovate and become entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The government has created a very supportive start up ecosystem through various schemes such as Startup India, Standup India, MUDRA etc, he said.

Urging everyone to use the ‘freedom of speech’ judiciously, Naidu said that dissent is welcome in democracy but not the disintegration of the country. He also said that Parliamentarians should debate, discuss and decide the things instead of disruption and obstruction in the House. Naidu said that violence has no place in democracy and the Ballot is more powerful than Bullet. He called for decentralising powers and responsibilities to local bodies in accordance with the Constitutional provisions.

Naidu compliment IIM Ranchi for establishing a Policy and Research Center in memory of former PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that he was a role model for all those in public life.Describing Vajpayee as a true statesman, Naidu said that the late Prime Minister had successfully helmed  multi-party coalition governments and accelerated the pace of reforms and had provided efficient and effective governance.

The Governor of Jharkhand Droupadi Murmu, Chairman, IIM Ranchi,  Praveen Shankar Pandya, Director, IIM Ranchi, Prof. Shailendra Singh, Convener-ABVCLPG, IIM Ranchi, Prof. Gaurav M Marathe, and students and faculty members were present at the event.