Naidu urges private sector to play bigger role in nation-building activities

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on September 21, 2019, called upon the private sector to play a bigger role in important nation-building activities such as infrastructure development and improving health and education sectors. Inaugurating the 11th Project Management National Conference at Hyderabad, he said that public-private partnerships would be the order of the day for big projects like SMART Cities.

Observing that Project Managers were extremely important for a nation’s progress, Naidu said these were times for immense changes and the knowledge and skills of project managers would have a positive impact on the industry and the country’s economy.

Recalling his own experience in launching big projects earlier as the Minister for Rural Development in Vajpayee’s cabinet and as Minister for Housing and Urban Development in Narendra Modi’s cabinet, Naidu cited the examples of the Pradhan Mantri Grammen Sadak Yojana, Swachh Bharat, SMART Cities, Housing and the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana.

Talking about the successful implementation of Schemes such as Swachh Bharat, Jan Dhan, Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana and others, Naidu said that bold initiatives such as these need champions who would inspire the team to work towards achieving bigger goals. In the case of Jan Dhan Yojana, the Prime Minister championed this greatest financial inclusion programme in the world, he observed.

The Vice President welcomed the bold decision announced by the government to cut corporate tax as it will stimulate economic growth. “The big project management challenge is to change people’s perceptions and win their support for lasting impact,” he added. Stressing that all programmes must aim at achieving inclusive growth, Naidu said that institutionalisation of project management was one of the important lessons that government agencies must learn from the private sector, according to a PIB release.

Expressing his concern over delays in execution of projects on time, the Vice President said that this trend needed to change and called upon Project Managers to act as change agents to improve the execution of projects and programmes. Referring to the recommendation of Task Force on Project and Programme Management which called for prescription of global standards and certifications for project professionals in public projects, Naidu said, ” We need to improve the way we plan projects, manage stakeholders, monitor progress, take corrective action swiftly and decisively, and develop future-ready talent with a high technology quotient.”

Referring to the policy framework initiated by the Quality Council of India, Naidu said that it would pave way for a formal approach to project and programme management once it receives a go-ahead from the government.