NEW YORK: A new way of delivering public goods and services such as education, health, water and others is needed for India to be a strong and prosperous nation, said P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister of India, in New York.

He was addressing the conference 'India@60: A New Age for Business' jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Asia Society and the US India Business Council at the Hilton Hotel on Sept 25.Addressing the breakfast session of the day-long conference attended by top business leaders of US and India, the Finance Minister commented that while the campaign by CII and the Ministry of Tourism was about incredible India, a credible India would arise from a strong and prosperous economy.

The Minister stated that much needs to be done on reforms and equity. The lack of education, health, water and sanitation, roads and other public goods and services had to be alleviated. This cannot be done by either the public or the private sectors alone and a new way of combining the advantages of both is needed. 'Growth is imperative but not sufficient.

Growth with equity is the only road for India," he stressed. But growth would provide the tax revenues required to fund social services.Introducing the Finance Minister, William S. Cohen, former Secretary of Defense of US, said that Chidambaram represented the face of reforms in India and is at the forefront of the Indian government's efforts for reforms.

"There is a fire burning in the heart of India, it is coming into the light and rising to the sun," Cohen commented.In his concluding remarks, Ambassador David C Mulford, US Ambassador to India, stated that the impressive aspect of India's reform process was that it has been spread over 16 years, and is supported by all governments and the people.At 60, it represents a large population, parliamentary democracy, rule of law, a secular government and religious tolerance, and is 'nothing short of a miracle.'