Govt did a lot for 'aam aadmi': President

In the last session of the 14th Lok Sabha, President Pratibha Patil today harped on the ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) and youth plank while speaking about the achievements of the United Progressive Alliance government.

“People measure government on the basis of what it does. In a democracy, government is measured on a simple maxim— ‘aam aadmi ko kya mila? (What did the common man get?)’ Today, after close to five years in office, my government believes that it has acted on nearly all the commitments made to the people through the National Common Minimum Programme,” she said in her speech at the joint session of Parliament.

Pitching the “rapid growth” in industry and investments in skill development programmes as the avenues of employment generation for the youth, Patil concluded her speech saying, “My government has steadfastly sought to accelerate the pace of growth to enable our youth to access global opportunities. Young India has the power to dream big. Our economic progress has enabled such global aspirations. Our young people have never been more confident about the future.”

Even as she gave elaborate details about achievements in almost all departments of the UPA government, social sector received the maximum emphasis. She spoke at length about various programmes in the Rural Development, Agriculture, Human Resource Development and Health ministries. The President also hoped that India’s domestic demand would inject fresh momentum into the economy, reeling under the ongoing economic slowdown.

Highlighting the achievements towards “inclusive development”, she said, “Right to Work was guaranteed through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The Unorganised Workers’ Act will facilitate social security to the 43 crore unorganised (sector) workers. Through the Right to Information Act, the government has been held accountable to citizens.

Through the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, historical injustice to tribes and traditional forest dwellers was corrected. A Central Educational Institutions Act ensured reservation to OBC students. A Bill on Right to Education, the Land Acquisition Act along with Rehabilitation and Resettlement, and a Constitution Amendment Bill providing for Reservation for Women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures stand introduced in Parliament.”

Describing the year that “challenged our open economy”, Patil said stimulus measures would drive the demand for goods and services, reviving production activities in the manufacturing and services sectors. The President also assured that India’s banks were well capitalised and “face no threat that many banks face in other parts of the world”.

Patil also underlined that the unprecedented growth of 9 per cent during last three years had enabled the government to provide adequate resources to undertake development at an unprecedented scale, increase assistance to state governments from Rs 186,000 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 240,000 crore in 2007-08. “It also helped to implement the much-awaited Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for government employees, including defence personnel,” she added.

“(The) series of measures to stimulate our economy have been expeditiously announced after discussions with stakeholders to address the problem of slowdown in industrial growth, exports and the services sector. The calibrated and prudent economic reform pursued by our government is helping us to weather the extreme adversities of the global economic meltdown,” said Patil.

The President’s speech in the last session of the 14th Lok Sabha also emphasised steps taken by the UPA to help the minorities. Talking about the prime minister’s new 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities, Patil’s speech mentioned that almost 800,000 minority students would be provided scholarships this year itself and the coverage would go up to nearly 4 million students over the next four years.

“More than 10,000 new primary and upper primary schools have been constructed in areas of minority concentration. Entrepreneurs from minority communities have been provided assistance under the Swarna Jayanti Grameen Swarozgar Yojana. Under Indira Awas Yojana, 239,000 houses have been allotted to minorities during 2008-09. The flow of credit to minorities has increased sharply and is expected to go up to 15 per cent. Public sector banks have opened more than 500 branches in the minority concentration districts.”