Gandhi said the country needs to open up higher education system and link it to the industrial system, NGO system and various other systems.
Responding a comment made by a participant from West Bengal on the atrocities against women, Gandhi said one of the biggest problems in the country is the lack of power women have and the way they are treated.
"If I want to bring about one change, it would be the empowerment of women," he added.
He said true governance is that which provides dignity and respect to people and ensures their voices are heard.
This was the third consultation held by Congress to secure suggestions for its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Tewari said.
The proces of preparing the manifesto by public consultation stems from Congress' "commitment towards ensuring that governance truly reflects people's voice", he said.
Asked why Congress was trying to get connected to people now and had not done in the last ten years of its rule, Tewari said "it is neither late nor do we carry (any) baggage. It is in time. It is approved."
Tewari said Congress brought transformation in the country through various policies, including Food Security Act and Right to Information Act, and now the party wanted to take it to the next level.
"Therefore, we are in a process of taking the high road to development ... So that India could occupy the rightful place in the commity of nations," he added.
