Sachin Tendulkar's seven-point agenda for India

Sachin Tendulkar sure is the elder statesman of Indian cricket, but how would he fare as a thinker on the social stage? Not bad at all, considering his seven point agenda that he shared with Hindustan Times just a few days before the Leadership Summit. Here, in brief, is his dream for India:

Eradicating hunger: I dream of an India where there is enough food for everyone, where nobody goes to sleep hungry. There are places in Mumbai where they regularly feed those who cannot otherwise afford it, and I think they do a precious, vital job.

Access to clean water: I’m not talking just of water crises in metros but of those people who have to walk miles to get drinking water in remote areas in the great Indian interior. We need to find a way to make sure that if someone is thirsty, water is within easy reach.

The right to shelter: One of the things that strike you about the cities is the miles upon miles of suffering homeless on city streets. My future India will see a roof over every Indian’s head.

Educated women: My India would see the end of discrimination against women, an end to female infanticide. Educating our girls is a must; women make families, influence generation next. We cannot be unfair to them.

Access to healthcare: I’ve read and seen enough about the lack of decent medical facilities across the country. We, as a people, need to make sure that anyone who needs a doctor is able to reach one and be helped. And helped properly.

The end of terror: I am from Mumbai, where too many have fallen prey to terror attacks. People have suffered all over India, too many have lost near and dear ones. Somehow, somewhere, this needs to stop. And maybe that can only happen if we have a common dream, one of a better tomorrow.

A more tolerant India: Finally, when I look at my team-mates, people from different religions, socio-economic backgrounds and cultures who still manage to bond like brothers, I wonder why that cannot be replicated across the country. My final prayer, therefore, is for a more tolerant India, where religious and other differences will not matter.

Impressed? Read more on our special Hindustan Times Leadership Summit web site. Imagine the India that can be.