New Delhi, August 15
Unveiling the ruling coalition’s agenda for its fresh five-year term, the Prime Minister today declared his resolve to launch another ‘Green Revolution’ and restore the economic growth rate to nine per cent while stressing that the UPA had received an overwhelming mandate in the Lok Sabha elections to start a new era of cooperation and harmony in the country.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the occasion of the country’s 63rd Independence Day, Manmohan Singh promised a slew of measures, including increasing capital flow into the country, encouraging exports and increasing public investment, to put the economy back on high growth trajectory.

“Restoring our growth rate to nine per cent is the greatest challenge we face... we expect that there will be an improvement in the situation by the end of this year, but till that time we will all have to bear with the fallout of the global economic slowdown,” the PM added.

Laying emphasis on adopting modern means to be successful in agriculture, Singh said India needs another Green Revolution to dramatically boost its food production. “The time has come for farmers and scientists to go for more modern methods of farming,” he said, adding that the government would do its best to achieve a 7 percent growth in agriculture. “We are confident we will achieve this in the next five years,” Singh added.

With most parts of the country reeling under drought conditions, the PM announced that the Centre would provide all possible assistance to farmers to deal with the situation and make efforts to control the rising prices of foodgrains, pulses and other essential commodities. “Nobody would be allowed to go hungry.

We will provide all possible assistance to our farmers to deal with the drought... in view of deficient rainfall we have postponed the date for repayment of bank loans... are also giving additional support for payment of interest,” he said, adding that the black marketeers and hoarders would be hounded.

For the first time in recent years, the PM chose not to make a mention of Pakistan in his Independence Day speech, apparently in view of the raging controversy over the India-Pakistan joint statement issued at Sharm-el-Sheikh last month. But he did say that India wanted to live in peace and harmony with all its neighbours and would make every possible effort to create an environment conducive to the social and economic development of the whole of South Asia.

The Prime Minister also emphasised on the growth of education, rural development, health and economic sectors to ensure that the benefits of development reached all sections of the society.

Underlining the need for expansion of secondary education in the country, Singh said funds will not be a constraint and disabled children will get special attention. The PM said the recently passed Right to Education Act provides for free and compulsory elementary education to every child.

“Now we also need to pay greater attention to secondary education. It will be expanded through a programme that will ensure that every child in the country gets its benefit,” he added. Singh also talked about a new scheme to help students from economically weaker sections of society by way of reduced interest rate on their education loans. “This will benefit about five lakh students in getting technical and professional education,” he added.

The PM further said the government was fully committed to the well-being of the minorities and had started many schemes for their welfare.

“We do not subscribe to the view that to take special care of the deprived sections of the society amounts to appeasement. In fact, we believe that it is our solemn duty to do so. Our government will give its full attention to the well-being of our brothers and sisters belonging to the minority communities,” he said, adding that the funds for special schemes to develop districts that had a concentration of minorities have been enhanced quite substantially this year.

“Similarly, we have allocated increased funds for scholarship schemes for minorities that the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had started. A bill to prevent communal violence has been introduced in parliament and efforts will be made to convert it into a law as soon as possible,” he added. Regarding the problems in the aviation sector, the PM said the government would take steps to solve soon the woes of national carrier Air India.

“We are giving careful attention to the problems of Air India and will resolve them soon,” he said, adding that schemes relating to civil aviation being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East “will be especially monitored.” 

New Delhi, August 15
Describing terrorism and Naxalism as major challenges, the Prime Minister said efforts would be re-doubled to sternly deal with the scourge.

“After the horrific terror attacks in Mumbai last November, our government has taken many steps against terrorism. The Central government will redouble its efforts to deal with Naxalite activities,” Singh said in his I-Day address. He said the government would extend all help to the states to make their police forces more effective and that the Central forces would be provided wherever they were needed.

“We will also do more to ensure better coordination among states," he added. Slamming Maoist violence, the PM said, “Those who think that they can seize power by recourse to the gun do not understand the strength of our democracy.” In his nearly 35-minute speech delivered in Hindi, the PM spoke at length about Jammu and Kashmir, declaring that it would be the Centre’s endeavour to ensure that human rights were respected in the state and all its citizens were able to lead a life of peace and dignity in an environment of safety and security. “We respect the special assurances and concessions provided to J&K in our Constitution. We will continue to honour these special provisions.” He said the recent elections in J&K had demonstrated that separatist ideology has no place in the state and the Centre will work to ensure that human rights are respected in the region.

Recalling the contribution of the nation’s armed forces, the PM, in his I-Day address, on Saturday said the government has accepted the recommendations of the committee constituted to examine the issue of their pension. The hike would benefit around 12 lakh retired jawans and junior commissioned officers.