IDEAS INDIA 2015, an initiative of Ananta Centre, focuses on leadership development and enables open dialogue on important challenges facing society by involving Governments, Industry, NGOs and other stakeholders, to hasten the process of India’s growth and development. The 3 dayIDEAS INDIA 2015 conclave, being held at a local hotel, has about 60 participants drawn from the arena of politics, governance, diplomacy, education, business, media, NGOs and various other sectors. The participants include two Members of Parliament, a young Minister from the Government of Nagaland and about half a dozen representatives from Kashmir.Addressing the Inaugural Plenary, Governor N.N. Vohra observed that despite varied difficulties faced by the people and the Government of J&K for the past many years, the State has been making steady progress on various fronts.
He highlighted the obtaining levels of achievements in the various economic sectors particularly industry, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, handlooms, handicrafts, tourism, power generation, road connectivities etc. He also spoke about the levels of achievement in the human and social development arena and sounded an alarm about the declining sex ratio. The Governor noted that successive Governments at the Centre had continued to provide strong support and accord priority for meeting the needs of the people and achieving progress and development of the State, particularly in the arena of infrastructure development, employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Highlighting the hurdles in the path of speedy development, the Governor referred to the perpetual disturbances created by an adversary Western neighbour. He also referred to difficulties arising from the location and geography of the State, unsatisfactory road and connectivity network, and the harsh geo-climatic conditions in large parts of the State.The Governor stressed the need for vigorous efforts being made for achieving peace, which would pave the way for speedy growth and development.The Governor made a special appeal to the participants to consider launching initiatives in J&K, in the areas of their respective expertise, to foster Government—private and non-Government—private partnerships which would go a long way in speeding up growth and development of the State. In this context, in answer to a question, the Governor observed that institutional relationships of outsiders with various segments of business and society in the State would go a long way in enlarging the spectrum of stakeholders and also strengthening the bonds of people of J&K with the rest of the country.
Among the many distinguished participants in this conclave were Mr Tarun Das, former Chief Mentor CII and Founding Trustee, Ananta Aspen Centre; former Foreign Secretary Amb Shyam Saran; Parliamentarians Dr Shashi Tharoor and Mr Baijayant Jay Panda; Sh T.N. Ninan, Chairman, Business Standards Ltd; Ms Kiran Pasricha, Chief Executive Officer, Ananta Aspen Centre; Sh Vijay Dhar, Founder, D.P. Dhar Trust; Mr Mhon Kikon, Minister, Government of Nagaland and many others.