Concerned over suicides by farmers, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said India can wipe out poverty by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.
"In the area of Vidarbha in Maharashtra, more than 10,000 farmers have committed suicide. I am working in rural areas and really understand it... Innovation, entrepreneurship and technology can eradicate poverty," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said at the Global Sankalp Summit here, organised by business solutions firm Intellecap and industry body Ficci.
About 2,000 small industries are being set up in Vidarbha region to provide employment to farmers, he said, emphasising on the need to promote innovation in organic farming.
He said innovation, entrepreneurship and technology could change the socio-economic scenario and address India's basic problem of poverty by creating multitudes of jobs.
Urging industry bodies to come forward to promote innovation among youth, he said India Innovation Foundation, Ahmadabad, alone had done 20,000 innovations and if tapped well these small initiatives could result in economic prosperity of the nation.
Speaking at the same event, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said his ministry is promoting an initiative 'Prism' wherein support is provided to start-ups and individuals, including scientists, technologists, farmers and students for converting innovative ideas into workable models or prototypes.
"Technology Development Board has also collaborated with CII to create global innovation technology alliance" to leverage Indian creativity expertise, he said.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said the partnership between India and US has evolved through years from strategic priorities to the one that is now driven by innovation and technology.
"India and US now work together in developing countries in Asia and Africa and triangular efforts showcase Indian leadership and know-how," he said.
He stressed on the need for more emphasis in areas of sanitation and water, saying, "2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation and 780 million people still do not have access to safe drinking water.
