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These days, I see some commentators talking about the emergence of two Indias. One is becoming very rich with outsourcing and other business activities mainly based on knowledge and service while the other is awfully poor and miserable with the falling price of agricultural products as a result of free market economy. What is the remedy? It appears that Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy has come out with a solution to this problem- must try to become a manufacturing hub like . has already showed remarkable success in outsourcing of software works and Mr. Murthy feels that must strive for having the same excellence in manufacturing.

 Referring to the fact that 65% of Indian population earn less than a dollar a day, Mr. Murthy said that must learn to think beyond software outsourcing. Most of them are either illiterate or semi-literate and Indian success in software outsourcing has hardly any importance in their life. The only way out for them and for is to focus on creating jobs in the manufacturing sector.

 Mr. Murthy said, "If we have to make life better for these (rural) people and give them reasonable standards of living, disposable incomes, healthcare and nutrition and education, I believe we have to look at low-tech manufacturing to start with and then high-tech manufacturing in a big way just as China has done because most of these people are semi-literate or educated at a very basic level."

 I am happy that a personality like N R Narayana Murthy has addressed the issue of 'Two Indias'. must learn to look beyond Bangalore and Chennai. What about you? Do you think should continue its focus for the software outsourcing only or try to give more time, effort and attention for creating manufacturing jobs?

You can read more about this news in The Outsourcing Weblog.

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