President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Sunday asked every Indian to make a contribution of Rs.5 per month and an equal contribution from the government which will lead to a consolidated health fund of Rs.10 million per month for one million people in the rural areas.

Kalam made this suggestion while interacting with doctors, researchers, paramedical staff and other members of the International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases at Parumala near here.

"This centre may consider promoting such a scheme in the villages located around this area which will enable provision of quality healthcare at an affordable cost for each of the villagers who become partners in this scheme," he said.

"The scheme can subsequently be applied to all the districts of Kerala. This in my opinion is an extremely cost effective method of providing quality healthcare to our rural population."

The president, who arrived in Kerala Saturday evening, is on a two-day visit to the state.

Earlier inaugurating the Karshika Mela (agriculture fair) organised by the Gandhiji Study Centre at Thodupuzha Kalam said it is time for the country to embark upon the second 'Green Revolution' in agriculture.

"The production of cereals needs to increase from the present 200 million tonnes to 400 million tonnes by 2020 in view of population growth," he said.

The Green Revolution in the 1970s, using better agriculture methods like double cropping, made India self-sufficient in food grain production.

He also pointed out that information technology should be used for maintaining an updated database of region-specific agricultural information on soil enrichment, seed selection and on monsoon arrival for the farmers.

Praising the state's development, he said: "Kerala is number one in the human development index and has a good knowledge base. Networking is crucial to realise the full potential of the state."