Gulbarga, Jan 07: President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday said the country should adhere to a strategy of inclusive
growth in all areas to ensure that benefits of economic growth
percolate to all sections of the society, particularly
scheduled caste and tribes.
"As India progresses, we must ensure that we adhere to
a strategy of inclusive growth in all areas of national life,
so that the benefits of our economic growth can improve the
lives of all our citizens particularly the scheduled caste and
scheduled tribes and the disadvantaged sections," she said.
The President was speaking at a function here to dedicate a
'Buddha Vihar' to the nation.
"A life of dignity must be assured to all. The fight
against poverty, illiteracy and disease must be fought and
won," Patil said.
She noted that delivering social welfare and justice
to the people would be a fitting tribute to Dr Bhimrao
Ambedkar, who too followed the principal of Buddha.
Patil expressed hope that the Buddha Vihar, set up by
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's Siddhartha Vihar Trust,
would contribute to the growth of the region through its
educational institutions.
Citing the early life of the Buddha and his quest for
enlightenment, she said, "Buddha's message found resonance and
it spread far and wide, attracting great amount of interest".
"There is a belief that Mahindra and Sanghamitra, the
son and daughter of Emperor Ashoka went from Gulbarga region
to Sri Lanka carrying the message of Buddha", she said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, January 07, 2009, 00:00