Dehradun: Dreaming about a developed India, President A P J Abdul Kalam on October 19 advocated New Delhi joining the comity of G-8 nations and removing poverty in another 10 to 20 years, but cautioned the people against violence saying peace alone could bring prosperity to the country.

The President called for networking of rivers to utilise the water resources effectively.

"If we can double our gross domestic product (GDP) from an average of five per cent to 10 per cent in another 10 to 20 years, then surely we can get rid of poverty from the country," he said addressing the 67th Founder's Day of the prestigious Doon School.

Kalam expressed concern over the fact that a large number of people in the country were living below the poverty line.

Stating that he was running short of time to interact with students directly, the President asked them to think what kind of India they wanted in future.

Calling for bringing lasting peace in the country, Kalam narrated his experience during his recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, where the chief monk of a 400-year-old monastery at Thwang gave him a message that "we must work for peace" as India was traditionally a peaceful country.

The President said, "I asked the chief monk to give a message that I can carry to people of my country because lately I was thinking about a missing link in our country.

"What is that missing link? I asked him whether he could help me and explain it," he said. "What the monk told me was that if you want peace, then you remove 'I' and 'ME'. By removing 'I' and 'ME', you eliminate ego and thus get rid of hatred," Kalam said. "If violence vanishes, then peace dawns in our nation," which he thought was a formula that parents must teach their children.

The President asked the students to dream about a developed India, which can enter the comity of G-8 nations.

"India can become a G-9 country."

He said during his visit to Assam, a student asked him as to why the waters of Brahmaputra, which remains mostly flooded, cannot be given to states like drought- prone Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

"Yes, we have tremendous water resources. What is missing is networking," he said, and called for networking of rivers to utilise the water resources effectively. "At times, you can also learn from a child," Kalam said philosophically.

Later, at another function to mark the centenary celebrations of the MKP college, the President again spoke about his "Vision 2020" for transforming India from a developing country into a developed nation. He also lauded the college for imparting education to girls.

PTI