Government is bringing forth a legislation to ensure food security in the country. Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament today, the President Mrs Pratibha Devi Singh Patil said to achieve this agricultural productivity has to be increased and comprehensive reforms in public distribution system apart from open market interventions. She said the commitment of the UPA government is committed to the common man and gave details of the steps taken by the government to address the pressing issues of food inflation.<br/><br/>The President said import regime for essential commodities has been liberalized. 30 lakh tones of wheat and rice has been released in the open market besides seven lakh tones of wheat and rice through various government marketing agencies. Mrs Patil said that state governments have been asked to take effective action against hoarders and black marketers and make appropriate use of state agencies for procurement of non PDS food articles in bulk. A core group consisting of senior ministers and some state chief ministers has also been constituted to examine a wide range of concerned policy issues.<br/><br/>The President said that the impact of global economic crisis has been met by domestic stimulus to the economy which has yielded handsome results. The economic growth which had gone down to 6.7 % in the last fiscal is likely to reach 7.5% this year and clock over 8 % growth in 2010-11 . It may reach 9% in 2011-12. (Byte President 3) Mrs Patil said that micro, small and medium enterprises has been given due attention and the government is taking steps as per the recommendations of the Task Force to improve credit access to them besides development of infrastructure, strengthening industrial centres, improved raw material supply and facilitating of marketing. The President said that Kashmir has been connected through rail and a fund has been created to provide assured financing for nine major national rail projects in North-Eastern areas. The President reiterated government's commitment to the early passage of Women's Reservation Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha. She urged members to accord special attention to this proposal. Mrs Patil announced that a new scheme for rural LPG distribution, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vitarak has also been launched to provide access to poor families to gas and other petro products She said government has prepared a comprehensive roadmap for the development of minorities. Recruitment of the posts has gone up in two years by two per cent till 2008-09. Mrs Patil said multi sectoral development programmes has also started in Minority dominated districts and the government is bringing an amendment to the Waqf Act in this session. She said National youth corps scheme has been introduced to enable young men and women to serve two years in nation building activities. Twenty thousand volunteers will be deployed in the first phase in several creative social activities including cleaning of Dal Lake in Kashmir. Referring to other initiatives of the government, she said National Action Plan on Climate Change has been launched. The focus is to produce 20000 Mega watts of solar power besides enhancing energy efficiency. A National Green Tribunal has also been set up to deal with climate cases expeditiously. Talking about the flagship programmes, Mrs Patil explained in detail the achievements in various areas including Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act , Bhrat Nirman , Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana , Power to all, Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission , Rajiv Awas Yojana, Development of airports , Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor projects and Mission clean Ganga and other programmes aimed to ensure inclusive and balanced growth of the people. <br/><br/>Mrs. Patil also said, a National Council for Higher Education and Research is being launched soon to regulate higher education and research in the country. The President said the governemnt is at work to bring an appropriate legislation for facilitating the participation of globally renowned and quality academic institutions in the higher education sector. Mrs Pratibha Devi Singh Patil said that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Midday Meal Programme have made substantial progress with increased investment in primary education sector. Mrs Patil said Right to Children to free and compulsory education Act will be effective from 1st of April this year. <br/>