Wednesday, October 27, 2004
N R Narayana Murthys message to HR professionals
Message delivered at the International NHRD Conference 21 October 2004
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Indias exports currently account for about 11% of the countrys GDP bringing in earnings of $ 70 billion. If India needs to grow and become a developed nation, it needs to focuson expanding its export base from the current level of $ 70 billion to about $ 250 bllion. It would require a focus on being globally benchmarked which is possible with high quality people. However, we often find that high quality people donot have the requisite experience and this is something that the HR fraternity needs to address.
Another issue which the economy would need to address, is the vexatious problem of low productivity displayed by the countrry"s agriculture sector which despite employing 65% of the nations workforce produces oly about 220 million tonnes of foodgrains. A portionof the workforce needed to be redeployed in either the services or manufacturing sector.
One of the biggest obstacles to eradicating poverty in India has been the inability to raise the peoples aspirations whichin turn could lead to growth and prosperity. We have built huge iron and steel industries, sent rockets in the space still we have 30 crore people who are illiterate. there is no drinking water for more than 25 crore people. There are no sanitation facilities for more than 75 crore.
There has been failure of leadership as well as failure in our HR function. In 57 years of independence India had achieved major landmarks like construction of bridges, dams and building of world class educational institutions, but the country still had to combat evils like rampant poverty, illeteracy and lack of educational facilities. More than 50%of the rural classes do not have adequate teaching staff. Indian political and administrative leadership has failed in their duty. Standard of living of indians is gong down day by day. we have failed in putting the nations interest above personal interest and to increase in aspirations of the people.
HR professionals have a challenge to build the leadership meant for the public sector, academia or even the political establishment. The Nehruvian view of a large population being bneficial to a nation was no longer corrrect and that the quality of workforce was deteriorating by the day.
It is time for the HR professionals should awake to this need of the hour. Coming out of their airconditioned rooms they should play active role in society. They should develop human resourse which will provide leadership in political, admnistrative and corporate world.
HR professionals should not have limited agenda of having human capital but also should aim at developing high aspirations among the peopleand create a feeling that we Indians are second to none. It is essential that young professionals to have higher aspirations, nobler goals and not to get satisified too easily.
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Indias exports currently account for about 11% of the countrys GDP bringing in earnings of $ 70 billion. If India needs to grow and become a developed nation, it needs to focuson expanding its export base from the current level of $ 70 billion to about $ 250 bllion. It would require a focus on being globally benchmarked which is possible with high quality people. However, we often find that high quality people donot have the requisite experience and this is something that the HR fraternity needs to address.
Another issue which the economy would need to address, is the vexatious problem of low productivity displayed by the countrry"s agriculture sector which despite employing 65% of the nations workforce produces oly about 220 million tonnes of foodgrains. A portionof the workforce needed to be redeployed in either the services or manufacturing sector.
One of the biggest obstacles to eradicating poverty in India has been the inability to raise the peoples aspirations whichin turn could lead to growth and prosperity. We have built huge iron and steel industries, sent rockets in the space still we have 30 crore people who are illiterate. there is no drinking water for more than 25 crore people. There are no sanitation facilities for more than 75 crore.
There has been failure of leadership as well as failure in our HR function. In 57 years of independence India had achieved major landmarks like construction of bridges, dams and building of world class educational institutions, but the country still had to combat evils like rampant poverty, illeteracy and lack of educational facilities. More than 50%of the rural classes do not have adequate teaching staff. Indian political and administrative leadership has failed in their duty. Standard of living of indians is gong down day by day. we have failed in putting the nations interest above personal interest and to increase in aspirations of the people.
HR professionals have a challenge to build the leadership meant for the public sector, academia or even the political establishment. The Nehruvian view of a large population being bneficial to a nation was no longer corrrect and that the quality of workforce was deteriorating by the day.
It is time for the HR professionals should awake to this need of the hour. Coming out of their airconditioned rooms they should play active role in society. They should develop human resourse which will provide leadership in political, admnistrative and corporate world.
HR professionals should not have limited agenda of having human capital but also should aim at developing high aspirations among the peopleand create a feeling that we Indians are second to none. It is essential that young professionals to have higher aspirations, nobler goals and not to get satisified too easily.
