The President of
India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, addressed the joint session of
Parliament, here today. Following is the full text of the President’s
address:
"Honourable
Members,
I extend a
warm welcome to you at this first session of Parliament in 2003.
This is my first Address to Parliament at the start of the Budget
Session.
2. Let me first
welcome the newly elected Members of the Rajya Sabha, as also
of the Lok Sabha. I congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir
who, in the October elections to the State Assembly, replied
to the threat of the bullet with the power of the ballot. The
entire Nation is grateful to our Armed Forces, Paramilitary
Forces, and Police Forces for their dedicated service under
extremely trying conditions. We pay our homage to those who
became martyrs in the call of their duty.
3. Today I would
like all of you to join me in paying tribute to Kalpana Chawla
and her six fellow astronauts, who died in the tragic break-up
of Space Shuttle Columbia minutes before its touchdown on February
1. The remarkable journey of courage and determination that
made this Indian woman, hailing from a small town in Haryana,
a Citizen of the Milky Way will remain a source of pride for
all Bharatvasis and Bharatvanshis. It will also inspire young
Indians, especially women, to dream big and to work hard to
realize their dreams. I commend ISRO’s gesture in naming the
METSAT series of satellites after Kalpana Chawla.
4. This is the
first session of Parliament after the National Development Council
adopted the Tenth Five-Year Plan. The Plan aims at accomplishing
faster economic growth with a stronger thrust on employment
generation and equity. It has set the target of 8 percent annual
average GDP growth rate during the Plan period, with a companion
target of 5 crore additional employment and self-employment
opportunities. The Plan convincingly explains why these ambitious
goals are achievable. It has distinguished itself from the previous
Plans by underscoring that it is not merely a Resources Plan,
but a Reforms Plan. It has deepened the domain of economic
reforms by, especially, providing reforms-linked incentives
to State Governments. It has also broadened the agenda of reforms
by showing the categorical imperative to remove numerous non-financial
barriers to faster development through reforms in civil service,
judiciary, education, and above all, in governance at all levels—at
the Centre, States, and Panchayati Raj Institutions. I would
especially like to draw the attention of the Union and State
Governments to the detailed list, contained in the Plan document,
of the legislative and administrative initiatives needed to
translate the Tenth Plan’s goals and targets into reality.
5. The Tenth
Plan is important for yet another reason. No nation attains
greatness without an energizing vision guiding it. The Prime
Minister, in his Independence Day address last year, has called
upon the people to strive towards the goal of transforming India
into a Developed Nation by 2020. This vision captures our
people’s heightened self-confidence, rooted in India’s impressive
achievements in many fields. It also reflects the increased
expectations of our people at the beginning of the new century,
that India no longer be categorized as a developing, much less,
a poor country. Nearly 260 million people, who are below the
poverty line, want to join the mainstream of development. Our
people are impatient to achieve 100 percent literacy, health
for all, shelter for all, prosperity through knowledge-driven
productivity, and a better quality of life—all of these enriched
with our value system. Hence, it is time India launched a new
vision, which I would call "Vision - 2020".
I would like Parliament, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee,
to discuss this subject. I also call upon the Union and State
governments to evolve an action plan for making the Tenth Plan
a People’s Plan and Development a People’s Movement. To achieve
this, they should concentrate on two mantras: Effective
Implementation with People’s Participation; and Effective
Communication for People’s Participation.
6. A key element
of "Vision 2020" would be "Providing Urban
amenities in Rural Areas (PURA)". More than two-thirds
of India’s population lives in rural areas. We need to give
a new thrust to their all-round development through a mega mission
for their empowerment. This is best achieved through provision
of four critical connectivities: Physical Connectivity by
providing good roads, transport services and quality power;
Electronic Connectivity by providing reliable communication
networks; Knowledge Connectivity by establishing more
professional institutions and vocational training centres, schools
with high quality infrastructure, teachers who are devoted to
teaching, production centres for rural artisans, primary health
centres, recreation centres, etc; and Market Connectivity
that will help realize the best value for the products and
services of rural people, and constantly expand and enrich employment
opportunities for them. The model envisaged is a holistic habitat
that would improve the quality of life in rural areas and also
help in de-congestion of urban areas.
7. National
security is a matter of highest priority for my Government.
After the December 13 attack on our Parliament by Pakistan-based
terrorists, we were constrained to deploy our troops along the
international border. This decision achieved its purpose by
showing both our firmness and our self-restraint in dealing
with our hostile neighbour. In October last year, the Government,
after careful deliberation, decided to strategically redeploy
the Armed Forces from their positions. This was done without
compromising on their capacity to respond decisively to any
emergency, and without lowering their vigil in Jammu & Kashmir.
8. A comprehensive
Nuclear Doctrine has now been put in place. This places the
ultimate control of our strategic assets in the hands of the
civilian political executive. The country is truly proud of
the scientists, engineers, and staff of DRDO for the successful
test firing of the Agni-1 missile. DRDO’s other accomplishments
include Pinaka, the indigenously developed Area Weapon System,
and the supersonic missile BrahMos, jointly developed with Russia,
which has been successfully flight tested.
9. Continued
incidents of cross-border terrorism in 2002 again underscored
that the chief threat to our internal security is external.
The killings of innocent men, women, and children; the choice
of members of the families of security personnel as special
targets; the attack on pilgrims—all this showed that there was
a method in the madness of Pakistan-supported terrorist violence.
However, the method did not succeed. Our people maintained calm
even in the face of provocative attacks on the Akshardham Temple
in Gandhinagar and the Raghunath Temple in Jammu. However, we
must continue to be vigilant against an adversary which is unwilling
to give up its anti-India stand. The assurances given by Pakistan
on the issue of cross-border terrorism have remained unfulfilled;
the infrastructure of terrorist groups remains intact in Pakistan;
the funding of terrorist groups continues.
10. The Centre
is fully committed to working closely with the newly elected
Government in Jammu & Kashmir in its efforts to bring peace,
normalcy, and economic development of the State. The Prime Minister
has announced projects and schemes worth over Rs. 6,000 crore
covering various aspects of development and security with a
thrust on generation of new employment opportunities for the
youth and relief for migrants affected by militancy and cross-border
shelling.
11. The Government’s
concerted efforts to rebuild peace in the Northeast are bearing
fruit. I send my special felicitations to the people of Nagaland,
whose yearning for peace has imparted strong momentum to the
Centre’s efforts in this direction. I also heartily congratulate
the Bodo community for the successful conclusion of the peace
talks. Development work in the Northeastern Region has gathered
further momentum. A number of infrastructure projects have been
set up through the Non-Lapsable Central Pool, through which
more than Rs. 1,500 crore have so far been released. The people’s
long-standing demand for better facilities for air travel in
the Northeast has been addressed with the introduction of four
50-seater aircraft.
12. During the
past three decades, about Rs. 550 crore were given to the States
to modernize their police forces. In contrast, the Police Modernization
Scheme launched two years ago has made a fund of Rs. 1,000 crore
a year for the next ten years. I urge those State Governments
with poor utilization of this fund to take urgent corrective
measures. It has been decided to launch the Multipurpose National
Identity Card Project on a pilot basis in thirteen States from
April.
13. The problem
of illegal migration from Bangladesh has assumed serious proportions
and affects many States. There have been reports of Bangladesh
territory being used by insurgent groups operating in the Northeast.
The ISI is also active in Bangladesh. This makes the issue of
infiltration even more ominous. The Government is determined
to take all necessary steps to check this problem.
14. The Assembly
elections in Gujarat have strengthened democracy and ended a
sad chapter in the State’s history. We must resolve to ensure
that communal violence is never repeated in any part of our
country. The Government remains committed to secularism.
15. My Government
has repeatedly made it clear that the Ayodhya dispute can be
resolved either through negotiations between the two communities
or through a verdict of the judiciary, which has to be accepted
by all concerned. While the judiciary should expedite its work
and give an early verdict, it is also necessary for political
parties, religious leaders, and eminent social personalities
to promote an atmosphere of mutual understanding, goodwill,
and accommodation.
16. The Government
has a coherent and well-integrated strategy for boosting economic
growth. Despite the global slowdown, the past year has been
a fairly good year as India continues to be rated amongst the
fast growing economies. In the first nine months of this financial
year, India’s exports grew by over 20 percent to reach US $
38 billion (Rs. 181,300 crore). Despite a relative slowdown
in the economy, the total revenues from excise and customs rose
by over 15 percent in the first nine months of the year. Inflation
remained at a moderate level. Our forex reserves have crossed
US $ 73 billion (Rs. 348,429 crore). Food stocks are comfortable,
and prices of essential commodities are stable, despite a severe
drought in fourteen States. The recent dip in the estimates
of the GDP growth has been almost entirely due to the shortfall
in agricultural production. This has once again highlighted
the need to rescue our agriculture from its excessive dependence
on the monsoon by increasing public investments in irrigation
and in all other inputs that increase farm productivity.
17. A Task Force
on Drought under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister
has been constituted. So far more than Rs. 1,000 crore have
been released to the States under the National Calamity Contingency
Fund, in addition to over Rs. 1,400 crore as the share of the
Central Government to the Calamity Relief Fund of the States.
Nearly 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains worth nearly Rs. 5,000 crore
have been allocated to the drought-affected States to generate
relief employment through the Food for Work programme under
the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana.
18. The Nation
has been searching for a lasting solution to the recurring problem
of droughts and floods, which have been taking a huge human
and economic toll. Networking of our river systems to transfer
water from the surplus basins to the areas of deficit has engaged
people’s attention for many decades. The Government has set
up a Task Force to prepare a practical blueprint for this project,
without compromising environmental safety and the interest of
displaced people. This initiative will bring significant benefits
in drinking water, irrigation, power generation, inland navigation,
and tourism. I must emphasize that this mega project does not
negate the need for promoting small and micro programmes for
water conservation at local levels. The two are mutually complementary.
19. The National
Water Resources Council has adopted a new National Water Policy
emphasizing integrated water resources development and management
for optimal and sustainable utilization of available surface
and ground water. The Centre has launched a Fast Track Programme
for the completion of those major and medium irrigation schemes
that can be completed in one year. Subsequent to the approval
by the Narmada Control Authority, the dam height was raised,
and this has mitigated the problem of drinking water and irrigation
in arid areas of Saurashtra and North Gujarat.
20. The Swajaldhara
programme, launched in December, has scaled up the rural drinking
water supply initiative to cover the entire country. It is a
community-led, participatory programme to be implemented by
the community and the Gram Panchayats. The community contributes
10 percent upfront towards capital investment; and 90 percent
is matched by the Centre. I am happy to inform you that the
programme’s message "Dus kadam aap chale, nabbe kadam
hum chalenge" has evoked excellent response from
all parts of the country. A new initiative called "Hariyali"
has been launched to promote integrated development of watershed
programmes through Panchayati Raj Institutions. Considering
the acute and growing water scarcity, in rural and urban India,
it is high time we launched water conservation and efficient
water use as a people’s movement.
21. The flow
of institutional credit for agriculture and allied activities
has increased from about Rs. 45,000 crore to nearly Rs. 75,000
crore in three years. The Kisan Credit Card Scheme has made
rapid progress since its inception three years ago. Over 2.7
crore cards were issued till September 2002. All the eligible
farmers will be covered under this scheme by March 2004. The
National Agricultural Insurance Scheme is picking up well.
22. The policy
of procurement at the Minimum Support Price,
while ensuring remunerative prices for wheat and rice farmers
in surplus States, has resulted in huge stocks of rice and wheat
with
the public agencies. As a response to this, the Government has
been encouraging exports of food grains. The wide-ranging recommendations
on long-term food management made by the High Level Committee
are being examined. There is an urgent need to review the current
policies, which have impeded crop diversification and led to
unsustainable food subsidies, and to ensure crop neutral support
to our farmers without excessive procurement.
23. Fertilizers
are a critical component in our scheme of food security. The
new pricing policy for urea to be implemented from April 2003
aims at greater transparency, efficiency, and fiscal discipline.
While the Government is committed to deregulate the marketing
and distribution of fertilizers, it would ensure that major
fertilizers are available in the country both in adequate quantity
and quality at affordable prices to farmers in all the States.
24. The sugar
industry has lately faced serious difficulties, constraining
the capacity of sugar factories to make timely payment to sugarcane
farmers. Several steps have been initiated to protect the interests
of sugarcane growers, while ensuring viability of sugar mills.
Sustained efforts are being made to promote horticulture as
a major area of diversification in agriculture. The cold storage
scheme is working well and has created an additional capacity
of 28 lakh tonnes. A new scheme of construction, renovation,
and expansion of rural godowns called Grameen Bhandaran Yojana
has been launched. This scheme will help prevent distress sales
by small and marginal farmers. A new National Policy on Cooperatives
has been announced. A National Seeds Policy has been finalized.
Under the scheme of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres, launched
last year, unemployed agriculture graduates provide extension
services to the farmers on payment. Recognizing the need for
value-addition in agricultural and horticultural produce, the
Government has given high priority to the development of food
processing industries. A Group of Ministers has been constituted
to propose a single modern integrated food law and related regulations,
to replace the existing myriad laws, which have affected the
growth of this sector.
25. Ensuring
food security for the poor through a strengthened Public Distribution
System remains a major commitment of the Government. The Antyodaya
Anna Yojana, under which one crore poorest of the poor households
are entitled to wheat at Rs. 2 a kilo and rice at Rs. 3 a kilo,
is a proof of this commitment. The Centre hopes that State Governments
would speedily remove the remaining obstacles in the smooth
functioning of the PDS.
26. The Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is the most ambitious rural infrastructure
project since Independence. During the last two years, it has
sanctioned over Rs. 7,000 crore to the States, enabling construction
of about 20,000 kilometres of roads. Efforts are being made
to raise additional resources for this project and also devise
innovative ways of speeding up its implementation. The Ministry
of Rural Development organized an All-India Panchayat Adhyakshas’
Conference in April. The Sammelan unanimously passed a Resolution
urging the Central Government to ensure speedy and effective
devolution of financial and administrative powers to Panchayati
Raj Institutions through an amendment to the Constitution. I
would like Honourable Members to discuss this important proposal
from the grassroots.
27. The National
Highways Development Project is one of India’s proudest success
stories since Independence. As against a total of 556 kilometres
of four and six-lane highways constructed during the first 50
years of Independence, today we are constructing 5 kilometres
of world-class highways every day! The Government is spending
Rs. 20 crore a day on construction of nearly 15,000 kilometres
of world-class highways during 1999-2007. The Golden Quadrilateral,
which measures about 6,000 kilometres, is progressing ahead
of schedule in many cases. Contracts worth over Rs. 18,000 crore
have already been awarded, mostly to Indian contractors. The
Project is already generating daily employment for 2.5 lakh
construction workers and 10,000 supervisors. On completion of
its first phase alone, it would have created 18 crore mandays
of employment. Besides giving a big boost to India’s cement
and steel industries, it is expected that the Golden Quadrilateral
alone would achieve a saving of Rs. 8,000 crore yearly on fuel
and vehicle maintenance costs. The greatest benefit of this
Project, in my opinion, is that we have demonstrated to ourselves
and to the world at large that India can now think of Big Projects
and also implement them in record time.
28. The Government
has taken various initiatives to put the Indian Railways, the
country’s premier transportation infrastructure, on a path of
fast-track growth. A new non-budgetary investment initiative,
called the National Rail Vikas Yojana, has been launched. It
envisages investment of Rs. 15,000 crore over the next five
years. A major project, costing over Rs. 3,500 crore, for constructing
the Udhampur to Baramullah railway line in Jammu & Kashmir
is being implemented. We will ensure that the first train rolls
into Kashmir Valley before August 15, 2007. Completion of all
viable sanctioned railway projects within the next ten years,
out of a total shelf of projects of about Rs. 40,000 crore is
also being planned. A non-lapsable Special Railway Safety Fund
of Rs. 17,000 crore has been set up for renewal of over-aged
assets and for safety- enhancement works.
29. Shipping
and port development is turning around strongly. Total cargo
handling capacity of major ports in 2002 was more than the traffic
in the previous year. Indian Ports no longer suffer from capacity
constraints, resultant congestion, and high turn-around time
for ships. In its continued endeavor to attract private sector
investment, the Government has offered three major projects
for operation of container terminals.
30. The Government
intends to soon bring in a new Civil Aviation Policy, which
will liberalize this sector, usher in regulated competition,
attract investment, and modernize our airports to provide affordable,
but world-class services to passengers.
31. The incredible
rate of growth of the telecom services in India, the sheer size
of the sector, the dramatic improvement in quality and the equally
dramatic fall in tariffs have together scripted one of the major
achievements of the country in recent years. This is an area
where the fruits of reforms have benefited the common man directly.
Until a few years ago, people were standing in queues to obtain
a telephone. Today, several telephone companies are standing
in queue to get the people to choose their telephones. Between
April 1999 and October 2002, 1.67 lakh villages have been covered
by village public telephones, resulting in 85 percent coverage.
The number of mobile phones, which was 14 lakhs in April 1999
has now crossed the one crore mark. What was only a few years
ago a symbol of luxury has become an affordable tool of empowerment
for the common man. The telecom revolution has also empowered
postal services in the country. The Post Office network in India,
in addition to modernizing its core postal services, is poised
to offer many new value added services.
32. India’s
Information Technology industry, which has emerged as the pride
of the nation, continued to do well in spite of a slowdown in
the global economy. Software exports were US $ 7.8 billion during
last year and are expected to reach US $ 10 billion this year.
IT-enabled services are also beginning to create large-scale
employment. I congratulate all our talented IT professionals
and entrepreneurs, for not only creating wealth for the nation
but also bringing prestige to India in the international community.
33. The media
and broadcasting sector has seen a host of new initiatives.
To promote consumer choice, the Government has mandated a Conditional
Access System for Pay Channels. It will shortly come into force
in four metros. Doordarshan and All India Radio will be supported
to more effectively discharge their mandate of public service
broadcasting. Community and campus radio stations will be allowed
to be set up to promote educational and developmental communication.
After considered debate, the policy has been changed to permit
26 percent FDI in Indian print media dealing in news and current
affairs. However, suitable safeguards have been put in place.
Effective steps will be taken to curb piracy to protect the
interests of India’s burgeoning entertainment sector.
34. The past
few years have witnessed a silent revolution in housing construction
in the country, thanks to a combination of government initiatives
and falling interest rates on housing loans. I am happy to inform
you that, whereas HUDCO sanctioned around Rs. 11,000 crore for
housing construction from 1970 to 1998, in the last four years
the sanctioned amount is more than that. It has sanctioned loans
for construction of over 60 lakh new houses for poor and lower
middle class people since the inception of this Government.
Other public and private housing finance companies have done
equally well. The Valmiki Ambedkar Aawas Yojana that aims at
improving the living conditions of urban slum dwellers has received
an overwhelming response. A Challenge Fund for catalyzing city-level
economic reform programmes will be operationalized soon. The
Government has given an in principle approval for a major project
to build married accommodation for defence personnel at an estimated
cost of about Rs.17,000 crore and cleared the first phase at
a cost of Rs.5,500 crore. The successful commissioning of the
first phase of the Delhi Metro has created great pride and excitement
among the people. I congratulate all those involved in its meticulous
implementation. An Urban Transport Policy, and plans to construct
metro rail in other cities, are on the anvil.
35. Power is
the prime mover of the development process. The good news is
that power sector reforms are slowly, but surely, showing positive
results. Till now 18 States have signed the Memorandum of Agreement
under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme.
Privatization of power distribution in Delhi has already led
to improved supply. To rationalize the tariff fixation mechanism,
a Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has been set up.
State Electricity Regulatory Commissions have been set up in
21 States. A comprehensive Electricity Bill is before Parliament
for approval. The atomic energy programme has also been progressing
well. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has been established.
I am happy to announce that the plan to achieve 30 percent energy
savings in Government buildings has well and truly begun in
Rashtrapati Bhavan and in the Prime Minister’s Office.
36. Maximum
self-reliance is the cornerstone of our energy security strategy.
So far, three rounds of bidding have been invited under New
Exploration Licensing Policy, and 70 blocks have been awarded,
involving an investment of about US $ 3 billion (Rs.14,500 crore).
A fourth round is planned. This policy has been able to achieve
its objective of expanding and accelerating exploration especially
in deepwater areas. It has started showing positive results
with big discoveries made in several places. For the first time,
eight blocks have been awarded for exploration and production
of coal-bed methane. ONGC Videsh Limited has started its first
gas production from the Vietnam Offshore Gas Project. The rate
of royalty on crude oil was enhanced recently with retrospective
effect from April 1998. This would provide additional revenue
to the oil producing States. The Administered Pricing Mechanism
in the petroleum sector was dismantled from April 2002. The
good news for housewives continues. Three crore and thirty lakh
gas connections were released during the last four years, as
against only three crore and thirty-seven lakh in the last forty
years.
37. Coal is
India’s principal source for meeting its primary and secondary
commercial energy requirements. 27 coal mining blocks have so
far been allocated to 22 companies for captive mining for specific
end-use. The Standing Committee of Parliament on Energy has
submitted its recommendations on the Coal Mines Nationalisation
(Amendment) Bill 2000, which seeks to throw open coal mining
to the private sector, without the restrictions of captive end-use.
38. On April
1, India’s indirect tax regime will cross a major milestone.
All our States will move to a uniform system of collecting taxes,
namely the Value Added Tax. Apprehensions that the States may
lose revenue in the initial period of introduction of VAT have
been allayed by assuring them that the Government of India would
compensate the revenue loss of the States, if any, upon introduction
of VAT.
39. Well-run
capital markets and well-regulated financial institutions help
in mobilizing productive investments for faster economic growth.
Last year the Government had to take a series of corrective
and promotive steps to restore investors’ faith and institutions’
health. These include the Securitization, Reconstruction of
Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Act, 2002 that
allows lenders access to the assets of defaulters. The Unit
Trust of India was successfully restructured with due protection
to the interests of small investors. SEBI, the stockmarket regulator,
has been strengthened. Investigations into the recent stock
market "scam", which were carried out by different
agencies have underscored the limitation of a fractured approach.
To investigate such frauds, it has been decided to set up a
Serious Fraud Investigation Office. The report of the Naresh
Chandra Committee on Corporate Audit and Governance is being
examined. The problems faced by IDBI, the nation’s premier financial
institution, have necessitated its restructuring into a regular
corporate entity. A Bill has been introduced to corporatize
IDBI.
40. The imperative
of fiscal consolidation requires that public finances are managed
better. This can take place only through greater collection
of revenue and controlling unproductive expenditure. Increase
in revenue will need restructuring of the tax system with a
focus towards a stable, transparent and efficient tax administration.
The Kelkar Committee’s reports on direct and indirect taxes
are a roadmap to the creation of such a tax regime. On expenditure,
both the Centre and the States need to rationalize their revenue
expenditure and to target their subsidies better. The Twelfth
Finance Commission, which has recently been set up, will address
these important issues.
41. The process
of disinvestment has gained irreversible momentum as a part
of the wider policy of economic reforms. State Governments are
also following this policy, which shows that there is a consensus
in practice. The proceeds from disinvestment reduce the burden
of public debt, thereby releasing public resources for the social
and infrastructure sectors. During the current year, out of
thirteen cases of disinvestment so far, eleven were of loss-making
units. The procedures for disinvestment have established benchmark
norms for transparency, efficiency, administrative simplicity,
and non-discretionary decision-making.
42. Social security
to the organized and unorganized workforce will continue to
be the Government’s priority even in the era of liberalization.
Under the Employees Provident Fund Scheme, which benefits 3.7
crore subscribers, a novel programme to reduce claims settlement
time from 30 days to 2-3 days has been introduced. A nationwide
unique Social Security Number for each worker is being launched.
The national minimum wage has been revised to Rs. 50 a day.
The Second National Commission on Labour has given a comprehensive
report covering a wide range of labour issues. Its specific
recommendations are being discussed with various stakeholders.
Based on these deliberations, a comprehensive umbrella legislation
for workers in the unorganized sector is being finalized for
introduction in this session of Parliament.
43. The textile
sector is grappling with the challenges of a globalized market
and problems created by slow modernization. Nine Apparel Parks
have been sanctioned for setting up garment units with state-of-the-art
machinery. Several new schemes have been approved to improve
facilities in major textile centres in the country. At the same
time, the problems of the traditional handloom and handicraft
sectors, which provide livelihood to vast numbers of our weavers
and artisans, are also being comprehensively addressed through
a special package of measures.
44. The Government
has taken new initiatives aimed at strengthening the small-scale
sector in the country to make it globally competitive. These
include schemes for technology upgradation, providing collateral
free loans, enlarging the scope of ISO Certification Scheme,
de-reservation of items in the SSI sector in a phased manner,
and promotion of small scale industries in the Knowledge Economy.
The Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries is implementing a
number of programmes for the creation of employment opportunities
for the educated unemployed youth both within and outside the
KVIC system.
45. The new
Science & Technology Policy 2003 presents a blueprint for
India’s emergence as a major Knowledge Power. It outlines the
approach to S&T governance, optimal utilization of existing
physical and knowledge resources, development of innovative
technologies, generation and management of intellectual property,
and creation of awareness amongst the people about the use and
benefits of science and technology. An India Science Award of
Rs. 25 lakh has been instituted to promote and recognize scientific
excellence. The rapid strides that India has been making in
biotechnology give us the confidence that we can develop it
both for finding cost-effective solutions to many difficult
problems in healthcare, food security, pollution control, etc.,
and also for realizing new avenues of wealth and employment
creation.
46. India’s
first meteorological satellite was successfully launched. The
forthcoming launches of satellites in the INSAT-3 series will
add further capacity to the INSAT system, which is already one
of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in Asia.
An exclusive satellite for education, EDUSAT, is also under
development. ISRO has taken up the task of tele-medicine connectivity
to provide medical services to remote areas. The Indian Remote
Sensing Satellites continue to provide valuable data for our
resources survey and management. Ground water prospect maps
for six States were released recently to help locate sites for
drilling borewells.
47. The richness
and diversity of India’s bio-resources are a major gift of nature
to us. The Biological Diversity Bill 2002, passed in the Winter
Session, marked a major milestone in India’s commitment to conservation
and sustainable utilization of our bio-resources. An ambitious
afforestation programme with people’s participation that establishes
Joint Forest Management Committees in all the 1.73 lakh villages
located on the fringes of the forest areas has been launched.
The scope of the National River Conservation Plan has been considerably
broadened to include works in 155 towns along polluted stretches
of 29 rivers spread over 17 States. India successfully hosted
the Eighth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change in New Delhi last year. The successful
adoption of the Delhi Declaration helped to raise awareness
of developing country concerns in climate change. India welcomes
the adoption of the Plan of Action at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development, which was held in Johannesburg last year.
48. Honourable
Members, in my interaction with thousands of children across
the country in recent months, I have found that they all have
a dream to make something out of their lives, and something
for India. It should be our collective responsibility to provide
them an environment in which they can achieve their dreams.
We have been implementing the largest intervention strategy
in the world on child health and nutrition through the network
of Integrated Child Development Services. In recognition of
the significant services being provided by Anganwadi workers,
their honoraria have been almost doubled since April last year.
A National Nutrition Mission has been launched in 51 demographically
most backward districts of the country. A National Commission
for Children, a statutory body that will act as an ombudsman
for children, will also be constituted.
49. The Nation’s
commitment to the universalization of elementary education is
reflected in our move to make free and compulsory education
for all children in the age group of 6-14 years a Fundamental
Right. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, our national programme to discharge
this Constitutional obligation, has been successfully launched
with an outlay of nearly Rs. 5,500 crore. Adult Literacy Schemes
have now been implemented in nearly 98 percent of the districts
in the country. The University Grants Commission, which has
completed fifty years, is proposed to be restructured into the
University Development Commission. Necessary amendments to the
UGC Act will soon be brought in. I also congratulate the IIT
system for having completed fifty years of distinguished service
to the nation. It has earned global acclaim for the quality
of its graduates. Fourteen Regional Engineering Colleges have
been upgraded as National Institutes of Technology. Special
thrust has been provided to address the educational needs of
minorities. Honourable Members, I cannot overemphasize the critical
importance of improving the quality and management of higher
education at all levels. This will necessarily entail many difficult
reforms, which I would like the two Houses to discuss.
50. Economic
empowerment is a key aspect of women’s empowerment. The concept
of Women’s Component Plan was introduced as a strategy to ensure
that at least 30 percent of the budgetary resources are spent
for the benefit of women. I am happy to note that nearly 43
percent of the budgetary allocation in social sector ministries
has actually been spent on women-specific or women-related schemes
during the Ninth Plan period. This process shall be further
strengthened during this year. The Self-Help Group movement
among women has proved to be enormously successful.
51. The Government
has announced National Health Policy 2002, which aims to achieve
an acceptable standard of good health amongst the general population.
This will be done through increased access to the decentralized
public health system by establishing new infrastructure in deficient
areas and by upgrading the infrastructure in the existing institutions.
A new National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy
has also been announced. Our efforts at containing malaria,
kala-azar, dengue, blindness, and leprosy are progressing well.
The coverage under the Revised National TB Control Programme
has risen to 560 million people from 20 million in 1998. The
Government has strengthened its partnership with States and
NGOs in implementing a comprehensive National AIDS Control Programme
throughout the country. In the era of liberalization, the Government
is committed to ensuring the affordability of basic drugs. It
will take comprehensive steps to further strengthen our pharmaceutical
industry, which in recent years has acquired impressive export
capabilities and tremendous global competitiveness in developing
new drugs.
52. Improvement
in the poor standards of sanitation, in urban as well as rural
India is essential for reducing the burden of disease, especially
among the children and poor. The Government will soon launch,
in active partnership with citizens’ organizations, a major
cleanliness drive, starting with Railways, government buildings,
hospitals, and public places.
53. The poor
performance of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh
in stabilizing their population is a matter of serious national
concern. The Centre, in close cooperation with these four State
Governments, has planned focused interventions to tackle this
problem. A matter of equally grave concern is the fact that
the female to male ratio in several developed parts of the country,
such as Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi, is
significantly lower than the All-India average, which itself
has been declining over the past few decades. Parliament has
strengthened the punitive provisions of the law against pre-natal
sex determination. However, the time has come for the governments
and civil society to launch a sustained campaign against the
evil of female foeticide and infanticide. Another area of concern
is the revival of polio in UP and some other States, which has
frustrated our resolve to make India polio-free by 2001. In
view of the alarming spread of Hepatitis-B in 15 States, pilot
projects have been launched for providing children with the
necessary vaccine.
54. Promotion
of social justice and mainstreaming of the weaker sections and
minorities has been the constant endeavour of my Government.
One of the key strategies for ensuring this is through economic
justice and employment-oriented educational assistance. In the
current year over 18 lakh SCs, 5 lakh STs and 6 lakh backward
class students have been awarded scholarships. Two new merit-based
scholarships after 10th standard have been introduced this year
– one in the name of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and the other for
physically challenged students. The various concerned Finance
and Development Corporations have a challenging role to play
to live up to their mandate.
55. To give
a further thrust to the welfare and development of Scheduled
Tribes, a Scheduled Area and Scheduled Tribes Commission has
been set up. The last such Commission was set up in 1960. Similarly,
after fifty years, a summary revision of Scheduled Tribes’ list
has been done under Article 342 of the Constitution, involving
inclusion or exclusion of 142 communities. To give focused attention
to the needs of Scheduled Tribes, it is proposed to set up a
separate National Commission for STs by bifurcating the National
Commission for SCs and STs.
56. The Ministry
of Youth Affairs & Sports has finalized a new draft National
Youth Policy. A National Youth Commission has been set up. Indian
sportspersons deserve commendation on their spectacular performance
in the 17th Commonwealth Games and 14th Asian Games. The decision
to host the first ever Afro-Asian Games later this year will
further promote sports in the country. I call upon our promising
sportspersons and sports organizations to start preparing in
full swing for the Olympics next year. Honourable Members, let
us send our best wishes to the Indian cricket team playing in
the World Cup tournament in South Africa.
57. The Government’s
commitment to electoral reforms is seen in the concrete legislative
action undertaken last year. It showed that Parliament is responsive
to people’s concerns over criminalisation of politics. Further,
the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2001 seeking
to provide for open ballot system in respect of elections to
Rajya Sabha for checking reported prevalence of money power
in Rajya Sabha elections, and the Election and Other Related
Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2002 providing election funding to political
parties to check corruption and money power in elections, are
pending before Parliament.
58. Judicial
delays have been a cause for serious concern. To remedy this
situation, nearly Rs. 500 crore have been allocated as special
project and upgradation grant for judicial administration. This
is the largest investment ever made for this purpose. Fast Track
Courts in some States have improved the conviction rate. A concerted
drive has been launched to fill about 2,000 vacant posts of
Judges and Magistrates in District and Subordinate Courts.
59. The year
gone by has seen a bouquet of initiatives to revive the glory
of Indian culture. The much-needed synergy between Culture and
Tourism has been brought to the fore by promoting a new concept
of developing at least one Culture-cum-Tourist hub in each State.
A number of monuments have been taken up for integrated conservation
and development. All-round infrastructure development and public
amenities around these complexes have been taken up in a big
way. Kurukshetra, Red Fort, Ajanta, Ellora, Hampi, Humayun’s
Tomb, etc. are some of the examples. It is proposed to revive
cultural tourism along the routes of the great Yatras of Adi
Shankaracharya, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahatma Gandhi. Work
is being undertaken to develop complexes along the route of
the legendary river Saraswati. Many schemes have been taken
up during commemoration of 2,600 years of the Janm Kalyanak
of Bhagwan Mahavir. The Mahabharata Festival at Kurukshetra
will now be held every year. Much of the ancient wisdom of India
is stored in a large number of manuscripts available with institutions
and individuals all across the country. A National Mission for
Manuscripts has been recently launched with the aim of surveying,
cataloguing, preserving and collecting these invaluable manuscripts
in a National Manuscripts Library.
60. My Government
will continue its vigorous efforts to use India’s Foreign Policy
to promote and safeguard our critical national interests. Drawing
on the strength of our civilizational and historical ties with
countries across the globe, we will forge ahead towards broad-basing
our political links, expanding our network of economic cooperation,
strengthening strategic inter-linkages, and collaborating on
cutting-edge technologies.
61. India has
always striven for peaceful, friendly, and cooperative relations
with all its neighbours. Unfortunately, Pakistan has consistently
responded to our efforts with hatred and violence, sponsoring
and actively supporting a sustained campaign of cross-border
terrorism. Recent revelations have shown how every civilized
diplomatic norm is being flouted by the use of its diplomatic
mission in Delhi to arrange financing for terrorist groups in
the country. We have had to take measures against the concerned
diplomats, but have also reiterated that we would be willing
to retain the level of our diplomatic representations by accepting
replacements of the expelled officials. Our position remains
unchanged that we are willing to resume bilateral dialogue with
Pakistan, as soon as cross-border terrorism ends.
62. India’s
commitment to SAARC, as an engine for economic integration and
equitable development in the region, remains undiluted. We have
constantly pushed for progress on substantive aspects of the
economic agenda outlined in the Kathmandu Declaration. We have
repeatedly declared our willingness to attend the next SAARC
Summit if meaningful progress is achieved on these issues.
63. India will
continue to intensify its multi-faceted cooperation with Bhutan.
Historical, cultural, and ethnic affinities have shaped our
relations with Bangladesh and Myanmar. We are also implementing
developmental projects with Indian assistance in Myanmar. With
Bangladesh, we are also engaged in a dialogue on some important
political and security issues that have arisen in our interactions.
The visit of the Prime Minister to Maldives in September last
year further enhanced our cordial relationship with that country.
64. Nepal is
passing through a difficult phase of political changes and Maoist
insurgency. We believe that multiparty democracy and constitutional
monarchy are two essential pillars for stability, security,
and development in Nepal. We hope that the current problems
will be resolved within this framework, in a peaceful and consensual
atmosphere. We have maintained an intensive political dialogue
and fruitful economic cooperation with Sri Lanka. We continue
to support efforts towards a solution of political problems
in that country in a manner that preserves its territorial integrity
and meets the aspirations of all segments of its population.
65. The people
of India and Afghanistan have a legacy of close and historic
ties of friendship and cooperation. We welcome the expansion
and consolidation of the authority of the Transitional Administration
and fully support the Government of Afghanistan. We look forward
to receiving the President of Afghanistan on a State visit to
India in the very near future. India will continue to extend
extensive humanitarian, financial, and project assistance for
Afghanistan’s reconstruction.
66. The close
ties of friendship between India and Iran were put on a stronger
footing, when we hosted the President of the Islamic Republic
of Iran as the Chief Guest at our Republic Day Parade this year.
We want to expand, consolidate, and diversify our ties with
Iran, which have a strategic dimension in the areas of energy
and transit.
67. India’s
interactions with China have grown and diversified. Trade and
economic cooperation are expanding rapidly. Efforts to build
trust and understanding in other areas continue. The Prime Minister
has been invited to visit China this year and has accepted the
invitation. We continue to strengthen our bilateral relationship
with Japan, pursuing the shared objective of building a Global
Partnership. India’s cooperation with the Republic of Korea
continues to expand. We continue to monitor developments in
the Korean Peninsula. Reports that the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea resumed its nuclear weapon programme with the help
of technology from Pakistan arouse serious concern, both about
the security implications and about the double standards with
which much of the world has handled the question of treaty obligations
as well as proliferation issues.
68. India’s
traditionally warm relations with South East Asia have been
reflected in our recent bilateral interactions, including the
Prime Minister’s visits to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Our
engagement with the region reached a qualitatively higher platform,
when our interface with ASEAN was raised to the Summit level
in November 2002. We are making good progress on the economic
initiatives outlined at the India-ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh.
69. India’s
deep-rooted relations with Central Asia have been enhanced by
an identity of views on recent political and economic developments.
India and the countries of Central Asia also have a shared determination
to tackle the negative focus of terrorism, extremism, and drug
trafficking, which stalk our common neighbourhood.
70. The Gulf
region is of great importance to India. The region is a major
source of India’s energy needs and a major economic partner
in trade and investment. Over 3.5 million Indians are engaged
in the economic development of the Gulf countries. These multi-dimensional
ties have been further strengthened and diversified through
sustained interaction.
71. We share
the concern of the entire world on the unhappy situation relating
to Iraq. We have deep interest in peace, stability, and security
in that region. We hope that the wisdom of the international
community, expressed through the UN Security Council, will result
in a peaceful resolution of this matter in a manner, which would
benefit humanity.
72. My Government
attaches great importance to the strategic partnership between
India and the Russian Federation, which is enriched by regular
political consultations, multi-faceted economic cooperation
and intensive defence collaboration. During President Vladimir
Putin’s visit to India in December last year, we also signed
a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Fighting against
Terrorism.
73. India’s
engagement with countries in Europe continues to be broad-based
and intensive. Regular exchanges of views on regional and international
developments have promoted a better appreciation in these countries
of our legitimate concerns and helped to re-vitalize our bilateral
relationships. The India-EU Summit in Copenhagen strengthened
our institutional dialogue with the European Union, which we
will take forward at the next Summit meeting in India later
this year.
74. India and
the USA continue to forge a new relationship. There is a mutual
conviction between the two countries that their bilateral relationship
must undergo a qualitative transformation in order to respond
to the increasingly complex challenges to the international
security and strategic architecture. The two countries are also
engaged in building closer bilateral consultations on multilateral
social and economic issues of mutual concern.
75. Africa continues
to occupy a special place in our diplomatic interactions. This
continent, which constitutes the largest group of countries
in the United Nations, is also, increasingly, becoming an important
economic partner for India.
76. Our bilateral
relations with Latin America and Caribbean have grown considerably.
The "Focus LAC" programme pursued since 1997 has resulted
in increasing attention being paid to the region by the Indian
public and private sector.
77. The Government’s
consistent efforts to nurture a close relationship with the
overseas Indian community were highlighted by the celebrations
of the first Pravasi Bharatiya Conference in January. On this
occasion, we honoured ten eminent persons of Indian origin whose
achievements in their countries of adoption and domicile have
done our country proud. The Government has also decided to grant
dual citizenship for persons of Indian origin living in certain
countries. The necessary legislation for this will be introduced
in this session.
78. Honourable
Members, it is indeed heartening that the Winter Session of
Parliament did exceptionally well in conducting its legislative
business. During that session, both Houses passed as many as
42 Bills and I have accorded assent to all of them. The Government
was able to bring forward several legislations last year, out
of which 93 Bills have been passed, which also include important
constitutional amendments. This is the highest number of enactment
of legislations enacted in a single year during the last 25
years and the third highest since 1947. Apart from the fiscal
agenda relating to the Railway and General Budgets, there is
a heavy legislative business awaiting completion in this Session.
I do hope that the Budget Session—and all the subsequent sessions
of Parliament—will be as productive as the last one.
- I wish you success in your endeavours.
Jai Hind."
