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Panel to give shape to 'knowledge society' concept

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Jan. 17. A sub-committee of the Union Cabinet is expected to be constituted soon "to give shape to the government vision of converting India into a knowledge superpower", the Planning Commission Member, K. Venkatasubramanian, said here on Friday.

The concept of "knowledge-based society" laid emphasis on providing education to all, empowering women and the girl child, leveraging on existing competencies in information technology, biotechnology, financial services and other select areas. Only this approach would help the country leapfrog into the new millennium, even while creating a humane and compassionate society, Dr. Venkatasubramanian said.

The idea required several changes in the existing education and social systems, and the sub-committee was likely to give shape to the concept, he said, delivering a lecture, organised by the Kalasalingam and Anandam Ammal Charitable Society, to mark the birthday of Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Human Resource Development Minister.

The `knowledge society' would make greater use of IT and communication technologies and increase skills and knowledge of people to achieve social and individual development.

The Anna University Vice-Chancellor, E. Balagurusamy, said the country had abundant potential in IT and software. But unfortunately, this had not been made use to improve productivity and efficiency in trade and services. Indian goods were costlier in the global market, and were unable to compete with the Chinese or Korean industry, which through better efficiency and productivity standards achieved cost-efficiency.

Highlighting the need for making better use of information technology for improving governance by governments and universities, he said more than manpower, it was willpower on the part of politicians and administrators that could make a difference in the knowledge era.

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