Former President APJ Abdul Kalam today urged management professionals to work with integrity, which could go a long way in making India a developed nation.
"Economic prosperity alone is not sufficient. There should also be social prosperity and the development should uplift 400 million people out of poverty by 2020," Kalam said addressing management professionals in the city.
Kalam said innovation and business models should focus at the bottom of the social pyramid and convert problems into business opportunities.
He cited the examples of ITC, ICICI Bank, Unilver and various other organisations that have been able to offer solutions to rural people with a profitable business model.
The former President cited the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) scheme as the only system at present for sustained development.
For India to develop as a super power, India must offer quality healthcare, education and safe drinking water to everybody as well as ensure freedom from corruption and curb crime against women and children.
He asked the business managers to think about what they can give instead of what they can take.
West Bengal governor MK Narayanan said there are long term challenges to make India an economic powerhouse like improving infrastructure, resolving land issues, inflation, fiscal deficit, declining FDI and the rupee turning less stable.