The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has exuded confidence that this year country's growth rate will exceed 6.5 percent, but lamented that growth is hampered due to lack of political consensus. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 66th Independence Day today, Dr. Singh asserted that issues affecting the development processes be viewed as matters of national security.
Citing a bad monsoon this year, the Prime Minister assured that several measures have been taken to deal with the situation. he said that the seed subsidy has been enhaced and funds available under the Central Scheme for fodder have been increased.
Talking about transparency and accountability in the Government, Dr. Singh reiterated that the Lok Sabha has cleared the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill. He expressed hope that all political parties will help the Government in passing the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. he said that Government will continue its efforts to bring more transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption.
Calling violence in Assam unfortunate, the Prime Minister said that the Government will make every effort to understand the reasons behind the violence and work hard with the State Government to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in any part of the country.
Talking of successes in the areas of internal security, the Prime Minister reminded that people in Jammu and Kashmir have participated in large numbers in the Panchayat elections. He said there has been a reduction in violence in the North-Eastern states and Government is engaged in dialogue with groups to make them join the mainstream. The Prime MInister said the Government has initiated new schemes of development in areas affected by Naxal violence to address the grievances of the people. Dr. Singh however asserted that communal harmony has to be maintained at all costs.
Promising his Government's resolve to create more job opprtunities for the youth, trhe Prime Minister announced that the Government is considering setting up of a National Skill Development Authority. Skill development will be provided to eight crore people over the next five years.
Announcing his Government's agenda, the Prime Minister said that the Government will soon launch the Rajiv Housing Loan Scheme to provide housing for economically weaker sections and giving them relief on interest for housing loans of less than five lakh rupees.
On education, Dr. Singh said it has been made mandatory by law and the focus is on improving the quality of education. He said malnutrition in children is a big challenge for teh nation. The Prime Minister said the Integrated Child Development Scheme is being made more effective in the next two months.
On the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, minorities, women and other weaker sections the Prime MInister said that the special needs of tribal and backward districts are being met through programmes such as the Integrated Action Plan, Backward Regions Grant Fund and Tribal Sub Plan. He said the Government is formualting a scheme to esnure that people belonging to Scehduled Tribes can get fair and remunerative prices for the forest produce. Dr. Singh asserted the Government wants to speedily convert the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill into a legislation. He said that government will make the 15-points programme for minorities more effective and the Multi-Sectoral Development Programme is being implemented in districts with large minority populations will be expanded.
