Palakkad: Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam gave a call “to fight vested interests who try to stop the speedy economic growth of the country.”

Inaugurating a Rs 36-crore ‘Total Development Project for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes’ at Agali, in the Palakkad district of Kerala, Kalam said: “If the 100-crore population of India stands united, the country could become one of the most developed nations in the world in a period of another 20 years.”

The president, who spoke in chaste Tamil which was well received by the majority of Tamil-speaking people of Attappady, including tribals, said the “overall development of the country should start from the village to the district and from there to the state.”

He quoted a saying in Tamil, “All are Indians and we belong to each other. Let us not allow the vested interests to come in the way of our progress.” Kalam said the tribals of Attappady have been waiting for long to fulfil their dreams.

“The programme of housing, health, school, employment and other schemes launched for their development will uplift them and ameliorate their hardships. The schemes launched will generate employment and prevent hunger and poverty. At any cost, the environment of Attappady and its natural beauty should be preserved,” he said.

Quoting from the 2000-year old Thirukkural by the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, starting ‘Pini Inmai Selvam,’ he said the five qualities described in it — health, wealth, unity, peace and power — still hold good. “We should imbibe these qualities though it was said 2000 years ago.”

He said the growth of a most backward area like Attappady will help the country’s overall progress. “The Integrated Mission for Scientific Development launched by the Department of Science could be of use in Attappady for protecting its soil and water.”