I am extremely pleased to be with you and sharing some thoughts on a topic of extreme importance – Sustainable Development. To an uninitiated observer, our conference may appear as a motley meeting of little significance. He is apparently right. Representatives of people, numbering over 25 million, who came from India, but now residing in far and wide corners of the world in about 130 scattered countries, practising different professions, belonging to different age groups, hailing from different states and speaking different languages now come together to discuss important issues on India. What can come out of this? Is there enough commonality of interests in such a heterogeneous and diverse “crowd”?

           My strong belief and conviction is that this heterogeneity or diversity is the biggest strength of India. India"s bewildering matrix of indigenous diversity has undergone manifold magnification because of Prawasi Indians and to that much extent, I contend that India"s sustainability as a cohesive nation has been enhanced. Let me take an I know. We have a mason from Kerala working in the UAE. His sister is working as a nurse in Ireland. Her husband is a surgeon from Ludhiana in Punjab. They talk and interact freely and regularly irrespective of the geographical distance, cultural background or professional differences. I don"t think, these relationships would have been born or thrived but for being Prawasis.This meshing and networking of relationships animated by the common “Indian-ness” is what I mean.

          We all know sustainability of natural ecosystems rests greatly on its diversity – floristic, faunistic and the habitat diversity. Systems which have preserved or conserved their biodiversity are resilient and are less vulnerable to any type of upheavals and disasters. Any economy or polity or society that follows this general principle – of maintaining and enhancing the diversity base of that unit enhances its inner strength and sustainability. I am sure, all of you are aware of Prof. Amarthya Sen"s thesis that multiplicity of “identities” of individuals is the catalyst and recipe for social stability. Any move to decimate our plurality, diversity or multiplicity of identities will be to the detriment of social cohesion. One could not have agreed to him more! It is in the intelligent juxtaposition of contrasting and brilliant colours that the artist creates his desired image in his picture. I believe that the colourful and brilliant Prawasis add to the oneness and integrity of India notwithstanding the bewildering diversity amongst them.

          I find that the “diversity formula” has much wider applicability and relevance than is generally appreciated. As the S & T Minister, I have always advocated and encouraged “technology diversity” to meet the challenges that confront the modern man. In the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC), which I had the privilege of contributing in substantial measure, I have stressed this point greatly. The NAPCC envisages that we should “diversify and broadbase” our energy sources from a predominantly fossil fuel based growth to rely more and more on wind, solar and other renewable forms of energy. Our knowledge systems also needs to be diversified – not condemning the indigenous traditional knowledge  nor blindly repudiating modern technology- we should assimilate the essentials of both  to usher in a sustainable society.

          “Ideological diversity” also has helped our country enormously. The socialistic pattern of development with a strong public sector as advocated by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was an absolute necessity to insulate our infant industry from foreign competition. But, as soon as our industry reached adolescence, we have liberalized our economy so that the competitive efficiencies of the market flow to the customers. India registering an annual growth rate of 9% and insulated largely from the cataclysmic and ubiquitous credit failures of the western world became possible largely because of our plurality. Soviet economy with its ideology hooked in Communist dogma collapsed in the eightees. Examples are umpteen on the other side also, where reckless market servitude have wrecked national economies. This why I say “ideological diversity” has been, continues to be and should remain as our invaluable and most cherished national asset. The success of our political system as a Democracy is also because of this lone fact.

          I am pained and traumatised, when some of our national leaders, erudite and learnt, embark to undermine this universal and indisputable truth  by highlighting singular identities and disparaging pluralities. To contend that diversity is desirable as a general principle but to condemn diversity in some arenas is to contrive politicking. I don"t want to elaborate, but just say that selective condemnation of pluralities is hypocritical and myopic jeopardizing India"s sustainability.

          It is said that sustainability rides on three “E” wheels namely the Economy, Equity and Ecology. Economic growth is an absolute necessity to secure to all our countryman a decent and dignified living. But growth is not an end in itself. We don"t promote a growth that exacerbates disparities. Any growth trajectory that does not take care of “Equity” is clearly unsustainable. Equity has got both “spatial” and “temporal” components. By spatial equity, we mean people living at the same time in different parts of the world have minimum standards of living and reasonable access to all resources. When we speak of temporal equity, we mean that we should not give to our next generation a world which is worse off than what we inherited. This intergenerational equity is a very cardinal principle of sustainability. Coming to ecological considerations, sustainability assumes serious and non negotiable proportions. We can"t live beyond our means. I think there is a need for our economic proselytization.    Economists tell us that two or three things as sacrosanct truths. (a) Human wants are unlimited .i.e the principle of insatiability (b) Mass production and mass consumption leads to a robust economy. Both of these are fallacious statements. As an Indian I am proud to share Gandhiji"s wisdom – that Nature has enough to meet everybody"s need but not to satisfy anybody"s greed. I think this is the singular message, a Prawasi Bharatiya has to convey to a world that prides itself in unbridled consumption, pervasive monetization and profligate profiteering.

          As S & T Minister of India, I have been struggling for the last four years to bring in scientific and technological solutions that will address our environmental problems to make our country a sustainable economy. In the Prawasi Bharatiya Diwas three years back, I had exhorted the NRI scientific community to come back to India for short times to help the country in its S & T building. We formulated some schemes by which such NRI"s who come to India for short term, are not put to financial loss by supporting travel, research grants and monthly payments. I am extremely gratified to inform that the response has been overwhelming. It is love of the country that has been urging many scientists to come to India even at the cost of great personal privations. My Ministry is thinking of various innovative ways by which we could get more Prawasis back to India. Let me cite one instance. You all know the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), one of the most prestigious research chains all over the world. I have asked the CSIR to amend its recruitment rules  so that STIO"s (Scientists & Technologists of Indian Origin) become eligible for appointment as Directors of National Laboratories on contract, without having to renounce their overseas citizenship rights. In the Department of Biotechnology, we are starting a number of translational research centres, where we could offer salaries comparable to foreign positions and sometimes better – all on contract basis. In the next couple of months, I am sitting with my good friend and colleague Sri Vayalar Ravi, to see what more steps could be done to have all of you participate in the building of India. We will get back to you shortly.

          I am sure, each of you will have a lot of things to say. Let me respond after you give your candid and free views. My theme is again – beneath our diverse views we have a unifying motive – the sustainable development of India. I would therefore invite your frank views.

Thank You