Coimbatore: Union Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee today paid rich tributes to late Congress leader C
Subramaniam, saying he saved India from the humiliation of
going with the begging bowl for foodgrains by bringing about
the country`s Green Revolution.
Releasing a Rs five commemorative coin, which was brought
out to mark the centenary of Subramaniam at a function in his
home town Pollachi near here, Mukherjee recalled that the
country was literally compelled to import foodgrains in the
60s due to drought for three consecutive years with inflation
soaring to as high as 24 per cent.
Subramaniam, as then Union Agriculture Minister, laid
the foundation for the green revolution, by encouraging
farmers to adopt latest technologies, which bore fruit,
resulting in the country becoming self-sufficient in
foodgrains, he said.
When the Indira Gandhi Government was defeated in 1977, the
rate of inflation was negative and for the first time India
achieved, though small, a breakthrough in international trade.
The export was more than import in 1976, Mukherjee, who was
then the deputy finance minister to Subramaniam, said.
Stating that he learnt from Subramaniam many things,
including the procedures of Lok Sabha and how to respond to
queries from members, Mukherjee said the former fully
justified the confidence then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru
had reposed on him by building strong economy and agricultural
sector and also democracy.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said Subramaniam being a
multifaceted person, was the scientist among scientists,
administrator among administrators and statesman among the
statesmen.
Subramaniam was instrumental in freeing India from hunger,
Chidambaram said adding that due to his contribution to
education, Tamil Nadu was now in the forefront in the sector.
Though India has the capability to produce more and become
self sufficient to feed its 110 crore population, there were
some problems, particularly storage facility and proper
distribution. Once these were achieved, nobody would have to
starve, he said.
PTI
