Growth should be socially inclusive: President

Commending the economic growth, President Pratibha Patil emphasised on Tuesday the need to make development socially inclusive, particularly for the disadvantaged and marginalised sections.

Inaugurating the annual India International Trade Fair in New Delhi, she said all the regions of the country should benefit from the fast economic growth.

"Our economy is now witnessing an accelerated growth rate... It should be our endeavour to sustain this growth and ensure that it is socially inclusive, particularly for the disadvantaged and the marginalised sections.

"We must also ensure that every region participates in and benefits from the process of economic growth that is transforming our nation," Patil said.

The President said the government had identified the food processing industry as a priority sector as it would generate employment in rural areas. This industry should be encouraged to set up small and medium scale units closer to agricultural production centres, she added.

"That would be useful in generating employment in rural areas and would also be beneficial to the food processing industry in terms of ensured availability of goods raw materials and savings on transportation costs," she said.

Patil said policies for agricultural development must keep the role of women in mind.

"We must also make our policies and programmes flexible and conducive to gender considerations in all areas of agricultural research, education and extension since nearly 60 per cent of farm labour in India comprises of women," she
said, adding that women have played a pioneering role in preservation of topsoil and forests. (PTI)

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil (centre), flanked by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Kamal Nath and Chief Minister of Meghalaya D D Lapang at the inauguration of the 27th India International Trade Fair-2007, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Photograph: PIB