Gandhinagar, 29 June 2013

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today stressed on the need for electoral reforms with clauses of Compulsory Voting and ‘Right to Reject’. This is necessary to induct competent candidates by the political parties and to cleanse politics. Gujarat has already made it a law.

Rounding up the daylong Young Indian Leaders’ Conclave held under the aegis of Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, he said that Gujarat is the only state in India which has graded government primary schools as per their infrastructure and quality of teaching through ‘Shala Gunotsav’ campaign. Gujarat has achieved 100 percent school enrollment after ten years ‘Shala Praveshotsav Abhiyan’.

Earlier, former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam set the ball rolling by speaking on how to develop Indian economy to make India a developed country by 2020. Tar was attended by 200 delegates drawn from different fields.

Others who spoke at the conclave attended by 200 experts included HDFC Bank Chairman Deepak Parekh, IIM-A Prof Brij Kothari, Zakat Foundation President Syed Zafar Mahmood, J.P. Morgan MD Sidharth Punshi and Global Pagoda Trustee Vallabh Bhanshali.

Mr. Modi, who sat through the daylong conclave listening to the speakers, wished voluntary organization such as CAG would make use of the powerful social media like Facebook and Twitter for empowerment of youth to make a stronger India. There is need for reposing faith on the people. It would eliminate scope of conflict.

He said that Gujarat Government has initiated a successful experiment of announcing new policies online for transparency. It reached out to poor through ‘Garib Kalyan Mela’ across the state, first identifying the potential beneficiaries and then uploading their names village-wise.

Mr. Modi listed Vibrant Gujarat Lecture Series, CM’s Fellowship for bright youths, ‘Chintan Shibir’ and ‘Swantay Sukhay Yojna’ for administrative officers as some of the other initiatives of his government. There is need for developing a work culture.

He also spoke opportunities for youth in Kashmir and India. He criticized the Central Government’s policy of exporting meat and mutton, which would have severe adverse repercussion on agriculture-based economy like India.