Modi woos Murthy to head youth centre in Gujarat

N R Narayana Murthy, chairman and chief mentor of IT major Infosys on Tuesday called on the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and held discussions on a wide range of issues, including the setting up of a Infosys research centre in Gujarat.

During the over half-a-hour long meeting, Modi proposed to the Infosys chairman to head a world-class incubation centre for the youth proposed to come up in the state.

"The chairman of a world-class IT company has reacted positively to the Gujarat government's offer to head a world-class centre for the youth proposed to come up in the state," an official statement said.

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"I will be happy to be linked with this ambitious project, but how much time I will be able to devote towards it is to be seen and I shall discuss this with the government later on," Murthy said, in reply to Gujarat government's offer.

During his meeting with the Gujarat chief minister, Murthy also expressed his intentions to establish an Infosys research centre in Gujarat.

Infosys has already evinced interest in opening an IT centre in Gujarat and sought land from the state government.

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"We are yet to get land. Once the Gujarat government takes a decision, and I am sure that they will, we would look at the possibility of starting a centre here," Murthy had stated on Monday.

In the past, senior executives of Infosys had met the Gujarat state officials and had explored the possibility of setting up an IT centre in the state.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first convocation of Ahmedabad University, Murthy said on Monday: "We are waiting for the Gujarat government to give us land. It is now the state's decision to do that."

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Murthy presided over the convocation of the first MBA batch comprising 110 students and eight BBA (Honours) graduates.

Talking about apprehensions of a slowdown in the outsourcing industry, Murthy said: "As long as the concept of value-for-money prevails, the outsourcing industry will keep going."

Addressing the convocation Murthy said: "While India's economic growth rate is the second highest in the world; its stock markets are on fire, FDI in the country is galloping, achievements in the field & technology are also remarkable."

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"There is also a different picture of India. People at large are not benefiting from the phenomenal progress the country has made. It has not got freedom from hunger, illiteracy and diseases.

Despite having 1/6th of the total population in the world, the country does not figure in the list of top 100, when it comes to the human development index. In such a backdrop, you are a few of the blessed ones, (those) who can transform India and facilitate inclusive and equitable growth prosperity."

"As we want to improve on the human development front, we should do it with due commitment and proactivism rather than just blaming the destiny or the system. I have full confidence in the power of youth," Murthy added.