The President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil has called for continuation of policies that promote growth. In her address to the nation on the eve of 61st Republic Day, Mrs. Patil said that growth patterns need to be taken to the bottom of the pyramid and to those currently outside its purview.<br/><br/>The president said empowering the poor and the disadvantaged, enabling them to move up the economic ladder and to join the ranks of the prosperous is a task that must be accomplished by everyone.<br/><br/>She said a bottleneck and an impediment in bringing about desired results for the schemes and policies formulated is weak implementation and corruption in the system. Mrs. Patil advocated that there should be accountability for lack of implementation of projects, programmes and schemes to bring about a positive change.<br/><br/>Talking about the security concerns, she said that the government will take necessary action to address the concerns. The President asserted that government is committed to maintain high vigil.<br/><br/>The President said the country has been a target of terrorism for more than two decades and the government will continue to take necessary steps to tackle threats emanating from it.<br/><br/>Referring to the significant strides made by India and it becoming fourth largest economy of the world in terms of purchasing power parity, Mrs Patil said the country's target of achieving a double digit growth rate is plausible given its impressive performance during the last decade and its resilience during the global economic downturn.<br/><br/>The President said India's secularism is a constitutionally chosen path that entails respect for all religions and its place in the national life is unalterable.<br/><br/>Mrs Patil said in the first decade of the 21st century, India witnessed transformational changes and it also emerged as a force driving change in the world and called for overcome deficiencies and convert strengths into an energetic force.<br/><br/>Observing that India ably demonstrated that it is a functioning democracy, by time and again, choosing its governments through the ballot and by taking democracy to the grassroots, she said the country must continue with its democratic principles and way of life.<br/><br/>Mrs Patil said India will continued to be a voice for peace, a voice for development, and a voice of hope. She asserted in the global arena, India will seek a change in the structure of multilateral institutions, so that they reflect contemporary realities.<br/><br/>The President said the country should follow a positive agenda for the empowerment of women and a change in our mindsets will be important to remove prejudices and create equal opportunities for all citizens.