deepen the values of pluralism and secularism, and to ensure rapid growth with justice and fairness for all.
My government has combined a caring and sensitive approach in dealing with the immediate economic and social problems, has taken measures to strengthen the nation's security, has proceeded with a desire to accommodate disparate political and regional voices, has sincerely worked towards deepening our federal polity, has vigorously pursued our enlightened national interests in pro-actively engaging with the global community, and has introduced sensitivity in the partnership between the institutions of governance and civil society.
In the longer term, our food security can be ensured only through sustained efforts at increasing agricultural productivity combined with a comprehensive reform of the public distribution system and open market intervention. My government is committed to bringing forth a legislation to ensure food security
My government has taken several new measures to strengthen the security apparatus of the country to equip it to meet the grave challenge posed by terrorism. These include strengthening of the state and district police machinery and Central Para-Military Forces, operationalization of the National Investigation Agency, establishment of four National Security Guard hubs to ensure quick and effective response to any possible terror attack, augmentation of the strength of the Intelligence Bureau, strengthening of the Multi-Agency Centre in the Intelligence Bureau to enable it to function on a round-the-clock basis, and strengthening of coastal security.
12. Government remains vigilant against all forms of challenges posed by terrorism. Zero tolerance of terrorist activities is our principled policy. We have to keep constant watch and innovate against global terrorist groups.
13. The overall internal security, law and order, and the communal situation remained largely under control during 2009. Infiltration of terrorists from across the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up. Even then, the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the North East, but left wing extremism continues to be a significant cause of concern.
it poses challenges at the same time opportunity too.
that the time has come to focus on ensuring that the processes of governance are sensitized, administrative instruments sharpened, and that the benefits of welfare programmes reach the aam aadmi. This commitment to canons of good governance must guide the massive slew of rural and urban reconstruction initiatives under Bharat Nirman, and other schemes for ensuring inclusive growth and social protection.
Investment in education is critical for accelerated inclusive growth.
education infrastructure based on the three pillars of expansion, inclusion and excellence. A National Council for Higher Education and Research will soon be established as an overarching body to regulate higher education and research in India. Government is endeavouring to bring forward an appropriate legislation for facilitating the participation of globally renowned and quality academic institutions in our higher education sector, and for bringing in foreign education providers for vocational training and skill development.
38. For providing the common man an opportunity to share in the growth of the central public sector enterprises, government has decided to list profitable companies on the stock exchanges through a public offer of at least 10% of the equity.
39. My government has taken several steps to meet the challenge of climate change. The National Action Plan on Climate Change is being operationalised. The Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission has been launched with an ambitious target of 20 thousand megawatts of solar power by 2022.
40. A mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency has been approved, and it is expected to work towards saving of 10 thousand megawatts of electricity by the end of the Eleventh Plan.
41. To ensure expeditious and effective disposal of civil cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests, a National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009 has been introduced.
42. The economy remains critically dependent on oil and gas. After the near stagnation in production for about a decade, the year 2009-10 is set to register a major increase, with 20 new oil discoveries.
43. My government is committed to give the aam aadmi maximum access to gas and petroleum products. A new scheme of rural LPG distribution namely, 'Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitarak Yojana' has been launched.
44. With a view to meeting the objective of 'Power to All' by 2012, as stated in the National Electricity Policy, a special effort has been made to encourage expansion in electricity generation capacity. As a result, during the Eleventh Five Year Plan we expect to add more than three times the capacity that was added in the Tenth Plan.
45. My government has announced a quantum jump in the pace of developing National Highways to reach 20 kilometers a day. Several policy initiatives have been taken to create an enabling environment. There is a fresh momentum in the development of National Highways.
46. The Civil Aviation sector could not remain unaffected by the global slowdown. Our national carrier, Air India, was particularly badly hit. Steps are being taken for its early rehabilitation under the careful guidance of a Group of Ministers.
47. The expansion and modernization of airports, especially the four metro airports, are progressing well. The Delhi airport project would be fully operational by July, 2010, well in time for the Commonwealth Games. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority has been established to discharge regulatory functions in the airport sector.
48. My government has been implementing the National Maritime Development Programme which envisages an investment of over Rupees one lakh crore, including private investment, on identified projects in the port and shipping sectors. The Indian Maritime University has now become fully functional with campuses in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and Kochi.
49. The Indian Railways knit this vast country together. My government is committed to fulfilling a substantial expansion in capacity and modernisation of railway technology and to increasing the speed of both passenger and freight trains, while improving safety.
50. Train services have commenced in the entire Kashmir Valley, from Qazigund to Baramulla, demonstrating the commitment of my government to the development of all corners of our country. A special North East Rail Development Fund has been created, to provide assured financing for nine major national projects in the North Eastern region.
51. The Indian Railways have also commenced work on the ambitious Dedicated Freight Corridors on the Eastern and Western trunk routes. This project would help drive India's growth.
52. Government, in partnership with the Government of Japan, has moved ahead on implementing the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor project. This challenging initiative, embracing six States, will provide impetus to industrial development in an environmentally sustainable manner, by providing quality infrastructure, efficient transportation, reliable energy supplies and efficient logistics.
53. My government is committed to the goal of extending the benefits of modern communication facilities to rural areas. Financial support is provided from Universal Service Obligation Fund to provide infrastructure for rural connectivity. My government has already initiated action to set up 10 thousand towers in 2010-11 for connecting remote areas across the country. As against the target of 60 crore telephone connections by 2012, the achievement already exceeds 57 crore, with an unprecedented addition of nearly 2 crore connections in the month of December 2009 itself.
54. Mission Clean Ganga, under the aegis of the National Ganga River Basin Authority is expected to ensure that by the year 2020, no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into the Ganga. This task, to ensure both nirmal dhara and aviral dhara, would involve collective and coordinated efforts of the Centre and the States concerned.
Honourable Members,
55. In the inclusive society that we aspire for, people must have confidence and access to a fair system of justice. Government has decided to set up a National Mission for the Delivery of Justice and Legal Reforms aimed at transforming the government into a responsible and cautious litigant, introducing judicial management, leveraging information and communication technology to improve court administration and case management and reducing pendency of arrears.
56. Our quest for good health for all remains a national challenge. The National Rural Health Mission has stimulated creation of public healthcare infrastructure. To correspondingly augment the availability of human resources, many measures like establishment of more medical, nursing and para-medical institutions in under-served areas, creation of additional seats for specialists and super-specialists, and incentivising service by doctors in rural areas, have been initiated. Early indications reflect the positive impact of this mission.
57. My government responded with alacrity to the Influenza A H1N1 pandemic. More than one crore inbound passengers were screened at international airports. New H1N1 testing laboratories were set-up, two crore doses of drugs were distributed to States free of cost, and 15 lakh doses of vaccines have been imported for health workers. For the first time in our country an indigenous Influenza A H1N1 vaccine is being developed which will be available this year.
Black money
My government has undertaken a number of steps to unearth unaccounted money parked outside India. These include amendment of the Income-tax Act, 1961 to enable the Central Government to enter into tax agreements with non-sovereign jurisdictions. Steps have already been initiated for negotiations for entering into Agreements for the Exchange of Information with major jurisdictions. Renegotiation of the Tax Treaty with Switzerland is in process. India is an active part of the global efforts to facilitate exchange of tax information, and to take action against tax evasion.
59. Access to news and entertainment must be made affordable and universal. To this end, in addition to notifying guidelines for providing Headend in the Sky services, the digitalization of both All India Radio and Doordarshan is on the anvil. The Commonwealth Games 2010 will be covered in High Definition format by Doordarshan for the first time. We also take pride that Indian films and music compositions have got international acclaim and recognition for our artists.
60. The Unique Identification Authority of India has been established with a mandate to issue unique identity numbers based on biometrics to all residents of India. This mammoth and unprecedented exercise will serve as a great enabler to improve targeting and delivery of major government welfare programmes and public services, especially to those who are poor and marginalized. The first set of unique identity numbers is expected to be issued in the early part of 2011.
61. A Delivery Monitoring Unit (DMU) has been established in the Prime Minister's Office to review a select number of flagship programmes and other initiatives. The nodal ministries concerned have begun publishing DMU reports on their websites on a quarterly basis, to keep the nation informed of their progress.
62. Government is committed to creating an innovation strategy for government, industry, entrepreneurs, technologists and academicians with a focus on inclusive growth and appropriate eco-system necessary to bring about generational change in our approach to development.
63. The country is hosting the prestigious 19th Commonwealth Games in October, 2010. Preparations for the event are at an advanced stage. Every effort will be made to ensure a befitting and successful conduct of the Games.
Honourable Members,
64. We have played our role in global affairs with responsibility and in the pursuit of peace, stability and progress in our region and beyond. Government will continue its active engagement with the world based upon the principles laid down by our founding fathers, and with the objective of furthering our goals of rapid and inclusive economic development and poverty alleviation in an increasingly interdependent world.
65. The visits to India by the King of Bhutan and the Prime Minister of Bhutan, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the President of Maldives, and the President and the Prime Minister of Nepal have given new content to our traditional ties of friendship with neighbouring countries. Following the elections in Sri Lanka, we will continue to work with the Government to enhance our partnership. India will contribute to the humanitarian and rehabilitation efforts for the Tamil minority and long term re-construction in conflict-affected areas. India's assistance to the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan witnessed important milestones and we will continue to partner Afghanistan in its development efforts. India is ready to explore a meaningful relationship with Pakistan if Pakistan seriously addresses the threat of terrorism and takes effective steps to prevent terrorist activities against India.
66. Our relations with the major powers have been further consolidated. The Prime Minister's visit to the USA laid the framework for the further expansion of the India-US partnership at the bilateral, regional and global level. My visit to Russia and the visit by the Prime Minister have renewed our time-tested friendship and opened new areas of cooperation. The 10th India - European Union Summit held in New Delhi was a milestone in our widening partnership with Europe. Our Strategic and Cooperative Partnership with China progressively acquired greater regional and global content. The visit of the Prime Minister of Japan underlined our mutual desire to accelerate our cooperation in all areas. The Prime Minister attended the first ever stand-alone summit of the BRIC countries.
67. My government pursued its 'Look East' policy with vigour. The President of the Republic of Korea was our honoured Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Government hosted the President of Mongolia, and the Prime Ministers of Australia and Malaysia. The signing of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the launching of several new initiatives within the India-ASEAN framework and the East Asia Summit process will further integrate India into the Asia-Pacific region.
68. My visit to Tajikistan, and the Prime Minister's presence for the first time at the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation were a reflection of government's policy to strengthen the bridges of friendship and understanding with Central Asia. Relations with Turkey were strengthened following the visit of the President of Turkey.
69. The Prime Minister's participation in the Non-aligned Summit in Egypt further consolidated our relations with the developing world. We will continue to accord special attention to the countries of the Gulf and West Asia. India's steadfast support to the Palestinian cause was reiterated during the visit of the President of the Palestinian National Authority. The visit of the President of Namibia, and the visit by our Vice President to Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia carried forward our deepening engagement with the continent of Africa. We will build upon our steadily expanding cooperation with Latin America.
70. India's views on global challenges such as terrorism, energy and food security, climate change and the international financial and economic crisis were unambiguously articulated at the appropriate fora. The issue of reform of institutions of global governance was brought to the fore of the international agenda. India's voice was heard with respect in the G-20 process, the G-8 plus G-5 Summit, and the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
71. We can take justifiable pride in the contributions made by the overseas Indian community in all walks of life across the globe which have earned them high respect. The first meeting of the Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians was held this year. Government will work towards giving Indian citizens living abroad the opportunity to vote by the time of the next regular general elections. We are committed to the security and welfare of the Indian diaspora. An Indian Community Welfare Fund has been established.
72. As part of the ambitious expansion of the country's nuclear energy programme, approval was accorded for the construction of additional Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors and sites for setting up Light Water Reactors. Following the availability of imported fuel as a result of the opening of international civil nuclear cooperation, commercial production has commenced in two units of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, and one more unit is expected to begin commercial production soon. New agreements for cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy were concluded with Russia, Mongolia, Namibia, Argentina and the United Kingdom, while others are under negotiation.
73. The space programme continued to provide societal services to the Nation in the areas of tele-medicine, tele-education and village resource centres. The Oceansat-2 satellite was successfully launched onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The flight test of the GSLV-D3 launch vehicle with indigenous cryogenic stage, and the launch of the Cartosat-2B, INSAT-3D and Resourcesat-2 satellites are planned in the near future. The GSLV-Mark III launch vehicle will be further developed and activities towards the Chandrayaan-2 Mission will be initiated.
Honourable Members,
74. Our country stands at a historic turning point. Never before were we so close as we are today to realizing our national aspirations as envisioned by our founding fathers and spelt out by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in this very hall on the midnight of 14th August 1947:
"The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means ending poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity."
We have taken decisive strides towards reaching these goals. Still, much remains to be done. The road is long, but our journey is in progress. Let us march together with confidence to a new, bright future.
Jai Hind.
