MAKE INDIA A
DEVELOPED NATION IN TWO DECADES
PRESIDENT’S
EXHORTATION TO THE PEOPLE
K.G.
Joglekar*
The President’s address
to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament at the beginning
of the budget session is not a mere ritual. It has the approval
of the Government and sets the goals that it has in mind and the
measures it intends to take to achieve them. It also gives an
overview of the political and economic scene at home and abroad.
It talks of goals and achievements but also of shortfalls and
dangers ahead. The address is an important event. But it becomes
much more so when a general election to the Lok Sabha is due next
year. Faced with this challenge, every government wants to put
its best foot forward. On its part, the opposition not only examines
the Government’s achievements under a microscope, but conducts
a hard test to find out if the goals that the Government has set
before itself and the nation can be achieved.
Economy
The President’s
address said that in the midst of a global slow down, the past
year has been a fairly good one for India. It continues to be
rated amongst the world’s fast growing economies. India’s exports
grew by over 20 per cent in the first nine months of the financial
year 2002-03 to reach 38 billion US dollars, i.e. Rs. 181,300
crore. There was a slow down in the economy but the total revenues
from excise and customs rose by more than 15 per cent during the
same period. The reserves of foreign exchange are more than 73
billion US dollars – the equivalent of Rs. 3,48,429 crore. Inflation
remains at a moderate level, prices of essential commodities continue
to be stable and the country has adequate stocks of foodgrains.
One has to remember that 14 States of India faced a severe drought
last year causing a shortfall in agricultural production and a
dip in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In the light
of this satisfactory picture, the address referred to the Tenth
Five Year Plan which had been adopted recently by the National
Development Council. The President said that the Plan aimed at
achieving a faster economic growth with a stronger thrust on generation
of employment opportunities. The Plan envisages an annual growth
of eight per cent in the GDP, thus providing employment and self-employment
opportunities to five crore more people. The current growth rate
in the GDP is far below that. Naturally the question arises whether
it will be possible to achieve the target set by the Tenth Plan.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam pointed out that unlike the previous
Plans, the Tenth Plan is not merely a resources plan but also
a reforms plan. The Plan document seeks to widen the scope of
economic and administrative reforms by removing the barriers in
the way of development. Incentives are to be given to the State
governments to carry out reforms. A detailed list has been given
of the legislative and administrative measures to translate the
goal set by the Plan into reality.
Vision 2020
In his Independence
Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort last year, the Prime
Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given a call to the people
to make India a developed nation by 2020. The President said that
this vision which he called Vision 2020 reflected the heightened
self-confidence of Indians rooted in the achievements in many
fields. It also reflected the people’s expectation that India
should no longer be categorised as a developing, and much less,
a poor country. Nearly 26 crore people are now living below the
poverty line and want to join the mainstream of development. The
address referred to the impatience of the people to achieve cent
per cent literacy, health care and shelter, a rise in productivity
and a better quality of life.
The urban population
of India has been rising steeply. Between 1981 and 1991, it rose
from 15.9 crore to 21.8 crore. People from the villages rush to
the cities and particularly the metropolitan centres in search
of a better life and employment. The cities are not able to provide
them adequate facilities to meet even the basic needs. Slums grow
and at the same time villages are impoverished.
The President’s
address referred to this problem. It said that the aim should
be to provide urban amenities in the villages where more than
two-thirds of the people of India live. The President called for
a mega mission for improvement of the rural areas. Good roads
and transport services will provide physical connectivity, a reliable
communication network will provide electronic connectivity. More
professional institutions and vocational training institutions
will give knowledge connectivity. Market connectivity will help
the people realize the value for the products and services of
those living in the rural areas. These steps, the President hoped,
would not only improve the quality of life in the village areas
but also help in the de-congestion of cities.
Dangers Ahead
For the successful
implementation of any development project, peace at home and abroad
is essential. President Abdul Kalam referred to two danger areas
without, however, linking them with the success of Vision 2020.
War clouds have been gathering over the Gulf region. The area
is a major source of India’s energy needs and a major partner
in trade and investment. Over 35 lakh Indians are engaged in the
development of the area. The multi-dimentional ties have been
strengthened and diversified by sustained interaction. War in
the region is naturally a source of worry for India because it
will mean a rise in the price of crude oil and will have a recessionary
effect on the economy. The President expressed India’s concern
and expressing the hope that the situation relating to Iraq will
be resolved peacefully through the United Nations Security Council.
The situation
in the Gulf is a matter of concern for other countries also. But
there is a danger nearer home for India. This is persistent cross
border terrorism by Pakistan. The President referred in his address
to the close friendship between India and many countries in the
neighbouring region or in far off continents. But he observed
that Pakistan had consistently responded to India’s efforts for
peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations with hatred and violence,
sponsoring and actively supporting a sustained campaign of cross
border terrorism. He said, "Every civilized diplomatic norm
is being flouted by the use of its diplomatic mission in Delhi
to arrange finances 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 representatives by accepting replacements of the
expelled diplomats. Our position remains unchanged that we are
willing to resume bilateral dialogue with Pakistan as soon as
cross border terrorism ends", observed the President.
The President
said in his address that continued incidents of cross border terrorism
in 2002 again underscored that the chief threat to India’s internal
security was external and there was a method in the madness of
terrorists supported by Pakistan, to kill innocent pilgrims and
other men, women and children and to target families of security
personnel. The people of India, however, continue to be peaceful.
But the President observed, "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".
The President
said that by the level of their participation in the State Legislative
Assembly elections held last October, the people of Jammu &
Kashmir had replied to the threat of the terrorists’ bullets by
the power of the ballot. He said that the Centre is committed
to working closely with the elected government in the State in
its efforts to bring peace, normalcy and economic development
of the State. Efforts to rebuild peace in the North East are also
bearing fruit. The President felicitated the people of Nagaland
for giving a strong momentum to the Centre’s efforts for peace.
He also congratulated the Bodo community for successful conclusion
of peace talks. On the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute in Ayodhya, the
President reiterated the Government’s stand that the dispute can
be resolved either through negotiations between the two communities
or by a verdict of the judiciary which had to be accepted by all
concerned. He said that while the judiciary should expedite its
work and give an early verdict, it was also necessary for political
parties, religious leaders and eminent social personalities to
promote an atmosphere of mutual understanding, goodwill and accommodation.
President Abdul
Kalam’s address to the joint session of the two Houses of Parliament
was a comprehensive review of national and international affairs.
It not only set out ambitious goals which would benefit the common
people but also referred obliquely to the pitfalls hampering progress
and to the dangers ahead. All in all, it was a judicious mixture
of confidence and caution.(PIB Features)
*Freelance
Writer
