Turbo-charge economy: Narayana Murthy

The Union budget for fiscal 2012-13 should “turbo-charge” the economy by making things easier for businesses to grow, create more jobs and attract more foreign direct investment, Infosys chairman emeritus NR Narayana Murthy said on Monday.

“The budget should turbo-charge the economy and make things easier for businesses to grow, enable job creation and ease norms for more FDI. It should also make it easier to build infrastructure for higher education,” Murthy said.

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to present the Union budget in the Lok Sabha on March 16. “The budget should do whatever is needed to accelerate progress in basic and higher education, healthcare, food for all, nutrition and shelter for all,” he added.

Urging the government to speed up the entry of foreign universities in the country and setting up of the national science and engineering board, Murthy said decisions on these matters should be taken with a sense of alacrity because education is one of the most critical infrastructures in the country.

“The government should take quick decision on these issues. Once that is done, we can get to the next step. We cannot afford to further delay decisions on critical needs such as affordable higher education, healthcare, food and basic infrastructure to spur the economy,” Murthy said.

With regard to foreign universities entering the country, he said that quick decisions must be taken in this matter.