New Delhi: Addressing the joint session of the Parliament on Monday, President Pranab Mukherjee outlined the priorities of the Narendra Modi government. The following is the gist of the President’s speech:
This was an election of hope, the electorate transcended the boundaries of caste, creed religion to come together and vote decisively for development and good governance. The country needed a strong and stable government that could provide effective leadership. Government pledges to the principle, development for all (‘sabka saath, sabka vikas.’) We will work to establish the credibility of the institutions of democracy and is committed to minimum government, maximum governance.Â
Government is dedicated to the poor, poverty has no religion, hunger has no creed. Government will not be satisfied with mere poverty alleviation but commits itself to the goal of poverty elimination and will focus on those who need the basic necessities of life most urgently.Â
Containing food inflation would be the top priority of the government. It will take effective steps to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Government is aware of the possibility of a sub-normal monsoon this year and contingency plan is being prepared.Â
An IIT and IIM in every state is the vision of the new government. Every family will have a pukka house (Permanent house) by the 75th anniversary of the independence. 50 tourists’ circuits will be developed along specific themes. National mission ‘e-basha’ to promote vernacular languages. The government is committed to providing 33% reservation in Parliament and state assemblies.Â
Mass campaign to save the girl child and enabling her education. ‘Zero tolerance’ towards violence against women.Â
A hundred new cities to be developed focused on specialised domains with world class infrastructure. Government is committed to make all minorities equal partners in the developmental of the country.
Special efforts will be made for the return of Kashmiri pundits to the land of their ancestors. Diamond quadrilateral network of high speed trains will be introduced. Social media will be used for participative governance.
The other schemes that the government intends to take up are:
- Building a national war memorial
- Ending rural-urban divide
- Air connectivity to the smaller towns
- Launching comprehensive national energy policy
- Working on environmental protection
- Making broadband highway
- WiFi zones in all major public places
- Accelerating job creation
- Tackling immigrants at the earliest
- Enhancing inter-state connectivity and solving border issues
- Digitalisation of Government accounts