India poised to shape emerging world order: Prof. Prahalad

Professor C K Prahalad

NEW DELHI: India today is poised to actively shape the emerging world order, as all global institutions are facing trauma due to the downturn.

This has to be done by gaining economic strength, technological vitality and quality moral leadership opined Professor C K Prahalad, Paul & Ruth McCracken Distinguished University Professor, The University of Michigan, Ross School of Business. He was speaking at a session in India @ 75: Next Phase - Call for Inspired Action organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Suggesting a 'Sandbox' approach for realising the vision of India@75, he stated that we should be able to achieve innovation within constraints by maintaining the following: global scales, environment sustainability, new price-performance level, market based approach, social equity and individual rights.

He further stated that India should innovate to bring in a model educational system that would work towards achieving the President's vision of educating 500 million people. We should not emulate benchmarks and standards of other countries which have never tried to achieve such huge scale for skills.

He said that people must have ability to be employable. We have to also think about getting the children to school before imparting skills to them. It is not a hidden fact that rural schools don't function and therefore a new education delivery mechanism should replace it.

Speaking on urbanisation, he outlined that 40-50% population in cities are living in slums. Planners should find ways and means for inclusive urbanisation with habitation acceptable in the 21st century. He upheld the spirit of entrepreneurship as the idea of bringing in a positive change in the society. He called for decentralisation with a district level approach and generate capacity to accept benefits of India's diversity. 

Rajesh V Shah, Past President, CII & Chairman, CII Urban Development Council and Co-Chairman and Managing Director Mukand Limited presented the concept of intelligent cities. He said that concentrated efforts should be made in drafting world class architectural codes and bringing in PPP arrangements. City development should clearly have a people's perspective as a truly democratic approach.

Sanjaya Mariwala, Chairman, CII Kerala State Council & Managing Director, Kancor Ingredients Ltd proposed creating more vision ambassadors for India@75 theme. Sharing his insights from Kerela@75, a state level segment of the theme, Mariwala said that building quick milestone actions is imperative.  District level administration should be the key focus for India@75, to see effective results, he added.

Dr Rahul Mirchandani, National Chairman, Young Indians (Yi) and Executive Director, Aries Agro Limited said that Yi aims to become the fireflies of the India@75 programme.
Yi is a key stakeholder in national, state and district level development of India. It has been generating awareness about what needs to be done, advocating to get heard at the right platforms and has been into action by undertaking fieldwork projects.

India Post News Service

Rajan Navani, Chairman, CII Mission on India@75 and Managing Director, Jetline Group of Companies urged for entrepreneurial transformation, and the constraints within which India has to innovate. According to him three critical areas for the country today are education with skills building, inclusive urbanisation and sustainability. A high level of leadership should be brought in upholding localised actions.
While delivering the vote of thanks, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said that CII will continue to support the theme of India@75 with a mission to make dream India a reality. As the theme has been internalised, it is not just CII's but also its membership's organisational agenda. The work on this theme will be development and motivation oriented.