Vijayawada, January 26: Former president A P J Abdul Kalam today said while occupying the top constitutional post he always dreamt of India’s rapid economic development.
Addressing students at Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge University Centre at Nuzivid in Krishna district, Kalam said his ‘Vision 2020’ can be achieved with an annual GDP growth of 10 per cent over the next ten years.
The noted defence and space scientist said he never opted to join politics, but it was the country’s choice to make him President, a post which he held from 2002 to 2007.
Kalam, who earned the sobriquet ‘People’s President’, said 70 per cent of India’s population still lived in villages.
Kalam stressed on exploiting science and technology to provide better education and health services to villagers.
Reminding students of their responsibilities, he said the core objective of education is to inculcate integrity.
–Agencies