'India should use low technology in manufacturing'

India could use low level of technology in the manufacturing sector to provide job opportunities to a large number of illiterate and semi- literate people in the country, Infosys' chief mentor Narayana Murthy said on Saturday.

Speaking at a meeting organised jointly by All India Association of Industries and Young Entrepreneurs' Society, Murthy said low-tech manufacturing could create a large number of jobs in India as in the case of China.

"Various products could be made using low-tech. Even cars can be made using low tech. The designing of a car is expensive but the actual manufacturing is not," he said.

"India had never received the kind of attention it is receiving now. But the progress made by the country has not reached the rural poor," he observed.

He said India could become a developed country if it could create a large number of jobs and institutions besides emphasising on greater transparency and accountability.

Unimpressed by the economic growth of the country, Murthy said high growth rate is nothing uniquely Indian. "All countries are growing at high rates," he added.

"We don't act to redress problem. In 1991, we needed 1.20 lakh MW power. And even on Saturday we say we need that kind of power. We have hardly put up new power plants all these years," he said.