HYDERABAD, Aug 15 (Agencies): Former president A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam, who stepped down from office last month, celebrated India's 60th Independence Day here by doing what he likes best - interacting with students.
Kalam participated in the celebrations at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and addressed the students in an interactive session.
The former president said youth should have a vision in life.
'Youth should excel in education, plant trees to protect environment and should keep their homes clean.' The father of India's nuclear programme described India as a nation of youth.
'In the whole planet you will not find a nation with such a large number of youths,' he said, asking them to take up the challenge of lifting a vast number of people above the poverty line.
Kalam later visited Sangareddy town in Medak district, where he again interacted with students of a private educational institution.
Hundreds of children accorded a warm welcome to 'chacha' Kalam.
Chhattisgarh to be free of power cuts: Raman Singh RAIPUR, Aug 15 (Agencies): With a planned investment of Rs.1,350 billion ($33 billion) in power generation, Chhattisgarh will soon become free of power cuts, Chief Minister Raman Singh said in his Independence Day speech here Wednesday.
'The state has entered into deals with 34 private firms for setting up power projects totalling 30,000 MW with an investment to the tune of Rs.1,35,000 crore,' he said.
After hoisting the national flag amid colourful cultural presentations by school students, Singh said: 'Chhattisgarh is fast recording development in all sectors.
The main focus of the state government is to boost infrastructure development and tone up basic civic facilities in all 18 districts.
'I want the state to emerge as the country's power hub.
The government is committed to complete various power projects under construction in time so as to realise the promise of making the state free from power cuts by Diwali this year,' said Singh, who was sworn in as chief minister in December 2003.
He said the state government would bring in investments worth Rs.15 billion for laying new power lines and setting up power substations to boost the transmission system and help people get over recurring low-voltage problems.
He announced that his Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government had already decided to provide free of cost single line power connections to 850,000 scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and below-poverty-line families.
'Chhattisgarh has witnessed all-round development in past three and half years.
The government has done a lot for the poor.
We have now brought down the interest rate on loans for farmers to six percent from 14-15 percent three years back,' Singh stated.
'The state has witnessed a revolution in the housing and irrigation sectors as well,' he added.
