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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, APRIL 2: Former finance minister, P Chidambaram today called for minimising the role of government in the management of national wealth and stressed the urgent need to abolish poverty which is threatening to destroy the meaning of life.
Delivering the convocation address for the Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration at the SIES College of Management at Nerul, Navi Mumbai, here today, Chidambaram pointed out that even in the era of liberalisation, the government has a very visible presence in India and nothing much has changed in spite of eight years of economic reforms.
Pointing out that even as creation of wealth is immensely vital, steps should be taken to prevent destruction of wealth due to poor policies and bad management. He called upon the young managers to direct their skill to control this destruction of wealth so that the country could register faster growth and prosperity.
The former minister blamed the government and policies for the current situation which has resulted in erosion of wealth and increased poverty.
8220;People no longer have confidence in the government and its policies. There is an air of cynicism all around and the government is not seen as a effective instrument which can deliver the goods,8221; Chidambaram said.
He was happy to note that the shareholders of companies are now taking more interest in their working than in the past which has resulted in better performance of the company and greater accountability.
Chidambaram drew the attention of the students to the inhuman conditions in which many sections of the population live today. He noted that historically the bulk of the citizens of have always remained poor. He said that there was vested interest among political leaders and their parties in keeping masses poor as they can play on their ignorance and their helplessness.
He expected a concerted effort by the government and the people in the abolition of poverty. He hoped that this could be achieved in the next 20-25 years if people rise up to meet the challenge.
