Government schemes should be conditional : Narayana Murthy

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – Speaking at the 26th edition of Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023, here, the IT industry veteran Narayana Murthy said, “nothing should be given free,” and suggested people availing services and subsidies provided by the Government should be made to contribute back for the betterment of the society. The Infosys co-founder also said compassionate capitalism is the only solution for a poor country like India to become a prosperous nation.

“I am not against free services being provided. I fully understand, as I also came from a poor background once upon a time. But I think we should expect something in return from those people who received those free subsidies to take a slightly bigger responsibility towards making their own future generation, their own children and grandchildren, better in terms of going to school, you know, performing better. That’s what I mean,” he added. The Government should tell the free services would be available only if the attendance in their school increases by 20%. Some days ago, Murthy had advised young Indian youth to work for 70 hours a week.

Along with deciding to expedite surpassing China, three shifts are necessary. Narayana Murthy said that, India’s economy was 3.5 trillion, whereas China’s is more than 19 trillion dollars. “China which had all the same problems as us, has reached a GDP five or six times that of India’s. So all that I would humbly request our political leaders is to study China very very carefully, and then see what are the good things that we can learn from China and implement here, so that India too advances at the same pace as China, and becomes a nation that has reduced the poverty of its people,” he added.

Speaking about infrastructure and completing metro services to Electronic City and other parts of the city where there are more number of companies on priority, he said, “People in that infrastructure industry must work three shifts.” Stating that he has noticed people working at least two shifts in other countries with high aspirations, he said, “…we want to be better than all those countries. So, ask people what are the requirements they need to work three shifts and complete the work in time and provide them that.”

Educate children in English medium schools

To make Bengaluru better, he suggested a good public governance system, starting more English medium schools, and improving infrastructure in the city with alacrity. (It has been observed so far that education through the mother tongue is more appropriate. As Indians progress materially, they should preserve their own culture and traditions. – Editor)