Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has expressed confidence that India would become the second largest economy in the world.
"We can't be satisfied with three per cent growth like the European union countries. We need to grow at nine per cent rate. There was also need to enroll more students in the institutions of higher learnings", he said inaugurating the new administrative block in Cardamom Planters' Association College at Bodinayakanur near Theni in Tamil Nadu on Monday.
Though poverty had not been eradicated, the level of poverty had come down. 'Money alone did not decide whether
a man is rich or poor, he said.
If he or she does not get proper drinking water, housing facility or road or school or health care, then that person suffers from poverty.'
The country needed investments in business, industry and agriculture, he said adding 'we need not only technology and theory but also investments as investments alone will lead to rapid growth'.
He wanted more investments to produce research scholars, technocrats, doctors and engineers. Referring to the appeal of the cardamom growers for steps to protect cardamom cultivation, he said efforts should be taken to fill the yeild gap.
© 2026