Kalam offers new development model

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Friday converted the India Today 8216;8216;State of the States8217;8217; conclave into a coaching session for CMs by suggesting that seven economic zones be created for faster development of the country.

His thrust was on how to evolve a nation through seven economic zones from 28 states and UTs based on their core competence and missions for water, power, healthcare, education and employment generation.

Giving a blue-print of the idea, the President said, the country could be divided into northern, desert, Gangetic, north-east, Deccan, southern and coastal regions for the purpose. 8216;8216;All that we have to do is make up our minds and have a conviction that the nation is above all of us,8217;8217; he said.