In Independence Day speech, PM highlights 10 years of UPA rule

New Delhi: Here are the highlights of what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort:

• In 1947, we achieved our independence under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. After that we have had major changes in our country in each decade
• I believe that the last decade has been very good for India.
• Democratic forces have been strengthened and the common man has been empowered.
• The UPA has worked towards building a progressive and modern India.
• We want an India where there is social equality and people from no section of society face discrimination.
• We have dreamt of an India which provides employment to all its youth.
• We have taken steps towards these goals but the journey is a long one.
• We have introduced the Food Security Ordinance and we hope it will soon be passed into law.
• Without agricultural growth our villages can't prosper.
• To increase produce and give farmers their due, we have taken many steps.
• In the 11th plan period, agricultural growth was 3.6%
• It is difficult to measure poverty but no matter what definition we adopt, we can't negate the fact that after 2004, poverty has declined.
• More than 2 crore children are being provided scholarships by the Central government
• We have opened many institutes of higher education including 8 new IITs, 7 New IIMs, 16 new Central universities and 10 new NITs
• Percentage of school going children has doubled in the last 9 years. But we still have a long way to go
• We have a fair distance to go before the education system is improved.
• We need to improve the quality of education and for this teachers need to be better trained
• 11 crore children are being fed under the mid-day meal scheme but better implementation is need
• What happened in Bihar recently should not recur anywhere in the country
• We have strengthened the laws that deal with crime against women to ensure their safety and security
• Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 2 lakh km of roads have been made
• Maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate have both fallen
• No polio case in the past two years
• There has been a lot of talk of economic decline. While that is true, it not just our country that's facing difficulty. All nations of the world are facing a recession
• I believe this slow growth wouldn't last for long
• Today as never before the countries of the world are connected to one another
• We have through our foreign policy ensured that our engagements with the major powers of the world increase
• We have tried to improve relations with our neighbours but relations with Pakistan can improve only when they don't allow their territory to be used for activities against India
• Our internal security situation has improved but we have not been able to prevent Naxal attacks fully. The attack on May 25 was an attack on India's democracy.
• We have empowered the common man through RTI. This law is being used widely and it often highlights corruption.
• I believe that this will help improve government's functioning