India has tackled tsunami well: Sam Pitroda

Rejecting criticism by global agencies, US technocrat Sam Pitroda on Friday said India has tackled the tsunami disaster well.

Pitroda, who has been honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contributions in the field of technology, is credited with scaling country's telecom infrastructure up to global standards.

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In Mumbai to attend the 3rd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations, Pitroda said India did its best with whatever resources it had to deal with the killer tsunami waves that hit its east coast on December 26.

Speaking exclusively to rediff.com, Pitroda said: "India has human resources in abundance. Where five people are required, we can give 15 people. That way India has put in all its efforts in dealing with the situation. We have tackled it well. What else could have been done?"

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Asked how India's skills in disaster management could be improved, he said: "We have to work on logistics and communications."

Pitroda said communication facilities plays an important role in disaster management. He said it is important to convey as fast as possible all the information regarding the kind of relief and rehabilitation required by the people in distress. "We can work on this and see how a system can be put in place."

Though he sees a great potential in India's young population, he believes there are weaknesses that need to be fixed.

"The electric plug I am using in my hotel is not working. I have to put in a matchstick to fix it. Why? Because it is an Indian product. Why don't we make products that fit in everywhere. We don't put attention in these minute things," he said.