Focus on villages: Madhavan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Villages should be the focal point of the country’s development process, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr G Madhavan Nair said on Monday. He was speaking after giving away the Youth Excellence Award instituted in memory of Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios at the Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology here. Hannah Paulose of Mar Athanasius College of Engineering won the award this year. ‘’Although India is progressing in every sector, the wealth is being confined to the hands of a mere ten per cent,’’ Madhavan Nair said. ‘’Seventy per cent of the population live in the villages. Sixty thousand villages still lack roads, telephones, schools and other basic facilities. There is no meaning in saying India is developing without addressing the issues faced by the villages,’’ he said.  Majority of the problems can be solved if proper educational facilities are provided in the villages.  Other issues requiring urgent attention are rainwater harvesting, tapping of solar power, interventions in the health sector and garbage disposal, Madhavan Nair said. India should climb up the steps of development by lending a helping hand to the marginalised, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos said. Award committee convener Fr Wilson Thattaruthundil, College principal Dr T M George and ward councillor Johnson Joseph attended.