New Delhi, January 25
President Pratibha Patil has called upon the nation to strive for all round, inclusive growth and development with an urgent need to address the agriculture sector.
In her address to the Nation on the eve of 61st Republic Day President Patil said, “Our target of achieving a double-digit growth rate is plausible and realistic, given our impressive performance during the last decade and our resilience during the global economic downturn.”
While cautioning about greater demand for food grains the President called for a second Green Revolution, stressing that, “There is a rising demand for food-grains. This foretells the need for an intense focus on increasing agriculture productivity to ensure food availability, particularly of agricultural produces which are in short supply, to avoid spiralling food prices. To achieve this very important objective, I call for urgent steps towards a Second Green Revolution.”
She also stated that, “We have to involve the agriculture economy more pro-actively into the growth process, both as a centre of production and as a generator of demand for various products and services.”
The President said, “Recognising this reality, we have to involve the agriculture economy more pro-actively into the growth process, both as a centre of production and as a generator of demand for various products and services,” and suggested that, “The possibilities of win-win partnerships between industry and agriculture should be explored. For example, the food processing industry when located close to agricultural areas can transform India's rural landscape. Currently, food processing in India is as low as 10 percent of production, as compared to 65 per cent to 80 per cent, generally seen in the developed countries.
But President Patil stressed on social justice being the pre-requisite for inclusive growth saying, “The roadmap to inclusive growth requires social justice that can be delivered through an effective social sector infrastructure. It should make quality education and good health facilities available to all citizens, along with social services and job opportunities.”
Pointing out that, “For a nation which is the seventh largest in geographical terms and the second largest in terms of population, our existing physical infrastructure is inadequate. This constrains and limits connectivity. We have to change this situation. The number of bridges, roads, harbours as well as our power generation capacity and transport facilities, among others, require extensive additions. But she also asked the nation not to ignore the connectivity to hearts and minds saying, “But, do not forget that along with these structures of cement, steel and mortar, it is also important to bridge our differences, build roads to connect
hearts and minds, harbour compassion, generate goodwill towards all and transport these feelings to strengthen the unity of the nation” adding “In the next decade, not only must we witness the speedy building up of infrastructure, but also a greater cohesiveness among citizens.”
But again she reminded the citizens that, ”Democracy involves a pattern of behavior, in which every individual must act responsibly, show respect towards dissimilar opinions and address differences in a constructive and accommodative manner. This will build harmony and tolerance - values which are intrinsic to our philosophy; these form the bedrock of a society that embraces the diversity of language, religion and culture to create a composite whole. These values must be followed uninterruptedly in a nation that is, as vast and as varied as ours. Secularism, our constitutionally chosen path, entails respect for all religions. Its place in our national life is unalterable.”
She concluded her address saying, “We need technologies for more efficient and cleaner energy, for our industry and agriculture. India has to chalk out strategies that will promote research and development resulting in innovative methods and techniques. The quality of research in our country must be upgraded to build knowledge structures. I think the nation should take this up as an urgent calling. A knowledge economy requires an education system that encourages creativity and a capacity to think in a novel
fashion.”
