Itanagar: President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam on October 15 said ''if we want to prosper economically, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) should be doubled'' and exhorted the youth to eschew hatred and violence and work hard for a prosperous India.

''If we want to prosper economically, the country's GDP should be doubled and to achieve the goal we must develop our agriculture, communication, education and infrastructural requirement as also information technology, '' Dr Kalam said in an interaction with 230 school students.

He urged them to ignite their mind with a vision for a prosperous India and work hard to fulfill their dreams because ''dreams ignite the mind''.

He asked them to replace hatred and violence with love and compassion and forego egoistic attitude to create a better environment in society.

Soon after his arrival from Tawang on October 15 on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the President visited the state museum before interacting with the students where he answered a series of questions.

Replying to a question from a student, Dr Kalam said he served the country as a scientist for more than two decades, then moved to Defence where he could serve the country as space scientist and could contribute in the field of missile production so that India could attain the nuclear capability.

''Now the country wanted I should be the President, so I am,'' he said.

Dr Kalam said Arunachal Pradesh had abundant natural resources and people with spiritual bent of mind as he saw in Tawang. To achieve prosperity and happiness it only needed hard work.

Earlier, the students staged a cultural programme depicting the cultural heritage of the state.

The students gave him a surprise on his 71st birthday on October 15 by presenting him a cake, which he cut and shared with them.

Later addressing the ministers, officials and representatives of various NGOs, the President was optimistic that Arunachal could develop within next 10 years, if the huge natural resources were harnessed in proper perspective particularly the huge hydel power potential to enrich the national grid.

He asked the government to invite industrialists from other parts to explore the abundant natural resources.

As regards the fund, he said most of the union ministries were keeping 10 per cent of their yearly budgets for the development of North Eastern region besides the fund allotted by the planning commission to these states.

''There should not be dearth of fund to develop the region,'' he said adding hard work and judicious utilisation of fund was the need of the hour.

PTI