New Delhi, Aug 23: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday addressed the World Wisdom Forum organised by the IIT Alumni Council in New Delhi, calling for inclusive development, technological innovation and collective efforts to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.
Sinha, who also felicitated achievers from various fields, said India's journey towards becoming a developed nation must remain rooted in its cultural and civilisational values while embracing technology and innovation.
Addressing the gathering, he said the "seed of Viksit Bharat has already sprouted" and India has achieved several historic milestones over the past 12 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He stressed that economic growth alone would not define India's development and said the country must also preserve its civilisational, spiritual and cultural character.
The Lieutenant Governor identified five key priorities for achieving the Viksit Bharat goal — developing a skilled workforce, ensuring sustainable growth, strengthening institutions, promoting balanced regional development and making India a global creator of technology and innovation.
He called for greater focus on emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, saying India should not remain merely a consumer of technology but contribute to its global development.
"We must resolve that we will not import innovation; we will export innovation," Sinha said.
Highlighting Jammu and Kashmir's potential, he said the Union Territory has significant opportunities in youth development, tourism, horticulture, handicrafts, natural resources and hydropower.
He urged industry leaders to invest in J&K and connect its tourism, horticulture and handicraft sectors with global markets, describing such investments as contributions to India's future.
Sinha said Prime Minister Modi's initiatives had created confidence and opened new opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the industry must now play a greater role in the region's economic transformation.
He also emphasised that the vision of Viksit Bharat should go beyond GDP growth and ensure that development reaches every region and section of society.
Calling upon policymakers, industry leaders, educators and citizens to contribute towards nation-building, Sinha urged the younger generation to prepare for the responsibilities they will shoulder in 2047, when India completes 100 years of Independence.
He said the generation that would be at the peak of its professional careers in 2047 must think about what it would create for the country and the impact of its work on society and humanity.
Shashank Mani Tripathi, Member of Parliament, Ravi Sharma, President of the IIT Alumni Council, Dr Ashish Chauhan, MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange, along with IIT alumni and prominent citizens from various fields, attended the forum.
