PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL'S INTERVIEW TO THE BRITISH BROADCASTING COPORATION (BBC)

New Delhi, 24th October, 2009

(BEFORE HER DEPARTURE FOR HER STATE VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM)

Interviewer: President Patil, India has sometimes had a prickly and uneasy relationship with the UK, perhaps because of the heavy legacy of colonialism. How would you characterise that relationship today?

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil: Both the countries are committed to democracy, rule of law and pluralism. After the commencement of the strategic partnership between our two countries, it has qualitatively transformed and now we have expanded and deepened our relationship in a number of fields including business, economic and academic as well. The purpose of my visit is to further strengthen India-UK partnership.

Interviewer: I'd like to pick up on something you mentioned there, you were talking of economic ties. Really, something fundamentally has changed between India and the UK hasn't it? India is now the second largest investor in the UK, in fact there's a very large business delegation that will be travelling with you. Do you see this as central to your relationship, the economic ties?

President: Yes, we have very good economic relations and trade relations as well. UK is India's fifth largest global partner in trade and second in Europe. Now the mutual trade has gone up to 12 billion pounds. This is the height of our, I won't say height but now it shows that how we are growing. UK is also the fourth largest investor in India and India is also the third largest investor in UK, second largest so far as creation and securing jobs are concerned. There are about 600 Indian companies operating in UK and if I mistake not, about 20,000 or more jobs have been either created or secured.

Interviewer: Right now Britain is experiencing one of its longest period of economic recession in its history and in contrast the Indian economy continues to grow. Are there lessons that the UK can draw from India and, you talked there about creating jobs. Can India create more wealth in the UK?

President: Certainly India can do that. India looks forward for more investment and we think that inspite of this adverse situation there are plenty of scope and opportunities in both countries to improve our, increase our trading relations. We have in India middle-class spending, a large domestic market, the technocrats and low-operating costs, a young demographic profile and therefore there are many chances in India for UK and other countries to invest here and, also, India is going to have a very massive programme of infrastructural development in the next five years, having in the power sector, in the roads, railways, ports, airports, energy. All these are the areas where UK can invest and Indian investors, companies are also, equally they find quite safe operating in UK.

Interviewer: Now, next year Delhi will host the Commonwealth Games. There have been some concerns about its state of preparedness. What message do you have for those who are worried that Delhi will not be ready in time?

President: No Delhi is quite prepared and they can come, they are most welcome and Delhi is very, very ready to welcome all those people who want to come here. No problem.

Interviewer: Now, last year Mumbai experienced the audacious attacks, the terror attacks - it's a city that you've spent a lot of time in. And this year, the regional security environment around you has worsened considerably looking at the violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Do you think Indians are feeling less secure now than they were before?

President: I think it is not only for Indians but it is a threat to the international security and stability because this is a crime against humanity and, if you want to have peace and progress and harmony it is necessary that the international community should work together and there is, this threat is spreading to other countries also, it is not only India but others also. What happened in Bombay? When the terrorist attacks took place there were citizens of the other countries also, not only Indians. So the target was not only India but others as well. And therefore it is necessary that the international community should come together and fight this menace.

Interviewer: Now this has been a very difficult summer in India. We've had the worst drought since 1972 followed, quite soon after, by these massive floods in southern India. It's in fact something we're seeing quite regularly now. How concerned are you with these weather patterns changing, because, there's a sense sometimes that India is not that serious about combating climate change.

President: No let me tell you India is very serious. India has a national action plan for that. About 8 missions have been set up for that. And India is seriously looking into this, how to fight this, this is also a big menace and India is trying to seriously fight that. We are working on conservation of energy and the new renewable sources, we are, India has an ambitious programme in this. We look forward having cooperation with the UK. I think that the international community owes it for the present generation and the future generation also, that a global collective, collaborative response should take place and some action which is transparent, and equitable regime, that should be established.

Interviewer: Do you think countries like Britain are doing enough or can they do more to help India, particularly with some of the technology that is available out there, through transfer of technology and even funding to help India combat this?

President: Yes, we do think so and while we think of this climate change, we are also wanting to have a cooperation in this field as I told you before, UK particularly and other countries who have the technological knowhow and the skills. India wants to have cooperation in that field and also financial assistance so that we can also take immediate action on that.

Interviewer: Now India is one of the world's economic stars, despite the recession your economy continues to grow, your businesses are acquiring new companies overseas, every year you add more and more billionaires to your economy. At the same time your own government's statistics show that a third of the country is living in extreme poverty, nearly half your children are malnourished. Why has India been unable to bridge this gap?

President: That is why now India is seriously has taken the policy of inclusive growth. All the disadvantaged and the marginalised society are being taken under the cover of growth and development and it is showing us the results. The rural health mission has been established where every village is provided a lady for health care who goes and propagates and educates the rural people about health. According to our plan of education for all, now the Act has been passed, right to education, for free education and we have established now schools in almost every village so that all the girls and boys, because girl child also should not lag behind.

Interviewer: You talk there about these female health workers spreading out to the villages. It brings me to my next question which is the state of Indian women. You are the first Indian woman to occupy the highest constitutional post in your land. How difficult is it for Indian women to reach the very top?

President: India feels that if we keep these women weak, uneducated, illiterate that is not going to add to the progress of not only India but any country. I always say that just as a chariot moves on two wheels, any nation, any country if it has to progress it has - man is one wheel and woman is other wheel. And if both wheels are very strong the chariot will move very fast. So it is necessary that the empowerment of women should be done everywhere and India has now decided, has already decided, to establish a national mission for economic and social empowerment of women. So India is taking all the womenfolk right from the rural areas to the top level with the progress in the country and trying to bring them in the mainstream so that they don't lag behind, they inspire the confidence to contribute according to their might for building a strong nation.