41st Giants International convention: ‘For inclusive growth, public participation is the key’

“Growth is possible only if there is inclusive growth. And inclusive growth is not possible only by the government, people have to join in. Today Gujarat is well-known for development, this is one state where GDP is one of the highest in the country. This is one state where even rural areas have received many facilities, but if there needs to be an improvement in the HDI and we wish to see an improvement in it then the participation of people is very important,” said Patel while averring that this philosophy underlined the aegis of service organisations like Giants.

Pointing out the many hostels, educational institutions that have come up in Gujarat were built by businessmen, organisations, he stressed on cooperation being the cornerstone for reaching the desirable pace of development. The minister also urged and invoked the generosity of the Sakhi Mandals members associated with the organisation to visit aanganwadis in villages and help tackle malnutrition among 3-4 kids for a year, monitor their progress and provide guidance to school-going children.

Referring to the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Act ‘ wherein companies are expected to donate 2 percent of their profit for a social cause, Patel said, “We in Gujarat have started an authority — CSR Authority — by which we have built up small project profiles whereby people who want to do something and are looking out for projects can go to the authority and do something for the people. That is what government is doing, we have decided to take CSR forward in a big way.”

The convention saw the presence of BJP spokesperson Shaina NC, Nana Chudasama, former Mayor of Mumbai, BJP national vice-president Purushottam Rupala, Ahmedabad MP Kirit Solanki, actress Juhi Chawla, Pravin Patel, chairman of the AMC Standing Committee and Ahmedabad Mayor Gautam Shah, among others.