The Prime Minister says reducing fiscal deficit, tackling subsidy bill on food, petro products and fertilisers, infrastructure development and spurring agriculture growth are the key challenges before the country.
Addressing the Congress meet at Surajkund yesterday, Dr. Manmohan Singh pointed out that the fiscal deficit, which was reigned in at 2.5 per cent of the GDP in 2007-08, rose to 5.76 per cent in 2011-12.
Dr. Singh said, high fiscal deficit can have very negative impact on the country and can lower the confidence in our economy. Domestic and international investments would trickle down. The Prime minister cautioned that unemployment and poverty will increase if the economic growth slows down.
Dr. Singh said the government had to take certain tough decisions recently regarding petroleum products but had taken care to ensure that the poor and weaker sections were least affected. and that was why the prices of kerosene were not hiked.
Dr. Singh elaborated that Right to Education, mid-day meal scheme, skill development mission, rural jobs scheme were among significant achievements of the government..
In her address, Congress President Sonia Gandhi asked the party to work cohesively with the government to secure a renewed mandate in the 2014 elections.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of Congress meet, Party General Secretary, Janardan Dwivedi said Mrs. Gandhi in her concluding remarks urged party ranks to strengthen the hands of the government towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people. Mr. Dwivedi said, though the UPA government has done commendable work through its flagship programs, more work has to be done.
Mr. Dwivedi said that a Coordination group and three sub groups have been set up with specific tasks to achieve better coordination.
Addressing the meet, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram elaborated on the measures taken to strengthen the national economy and to reduce fiscal deficit.
AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, in his address, emphasized on transparency in governance and effective delivery of services to the people.
