[ HOOVER MEDAL ]
Dr. Abdul Kalam
RECEIVES HOOVER MEDAL

The Hoover Medal for 2008 being presented to the President
by Beatrice E. Hunt of STV Inc., Chair, and Professor P. Somasundaran of
Columbia University, vice-chair of the Hoover Medal Board.

In an award ceremony conducted in the magnificent Low Memorial Library of Columbia University, New York, and attended by Nobel Laureates, diplomats, academicians, engineers, students and leaders of the Indian American community, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th president of India became the 64th recipient of the Prestigious Hoover Medal last month.

The Hoover Medal for 2008 was presented to the President by Beatrice E. Hunt of STV Inc., Chair, and Professor P. Somasundaran of Columbia University, vice-chair of the Hoover Medal Board.

Dr. Kalam was chosen for "making state-of-the-art healthcare available to the common man at affordable prices, bringing quality medical care to rural areas by establishing a link between doctors and technocrats, using spin-offs of defense technology to create state-of-the-art medical equipment, and launching telemedicine projects connecting remote ruralbased hospitals to super-specialty hospitals."

Accepting the award, Dr. Kalam talked about "transforming a billion people to prosperity," and made a detailed presentation of his vision for India that encompasses rural connectivity, energy independence and a water mission with the application of science & technology management.

President Kalam with the organizers and dignitaries.

Kalam has a four-point plan through the free flow of information across the agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors. In this model, four grids bring about the interfaces of three sectors of the economy, he said. While the Knowledge Grid interconnects universities with socioeconomic institutions, industries and research and development organizations, the Health Grid joins the healthcare institutions of government, corporations, and super-specialty hospitals. Similarly, the e- Governance Grid interconnects the central and state governments with districts and block level offices, and the PURA Grid is aimed at Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas.

The solution to two critical problems facing the world, namely continuous depletion of fossil-material-derived oil, gas and coal reserves and the continuous degradation of the environment, could be found in energy independence, according to Kalam. The third important mission for India was the integrated water mission, he said, calling it "the major challenge that will bring peace and prosperity to the nation and create a sustainable development environment for the nation."

[ BY AJAY GHOSH ]