New Delhi:
Battling corruption allegations and scandals, the government today released its report card for UPA-II.
Here are the highlights of the report released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh:- A detailed review of government programmes is contained in the report, request media to read fully
- We can legitimately claim with pride that UPA government has taken India forward; we have journeyed many miles and we have many miles to go
- Deep sense of gratitude to Sonia Gandhi whose inspiring leadership has made these achievements possible
Let me focus on 4 key achievements:
1.Improved performance of economy
2.Making growth process more inclusive
3.Delivery of better governance, welfare, development programs
4.Improved relations with changing and challenging world - UPA government has taken our country forward on all these four fronts
- Faster growth necessary to provide opportunities to young generation
- Growth slowed down to 5 per cent in 2012-13 but it was a doable phenomenon
- GDP declined in euro zone, grew very slowly in japan, US.. Slowed down in China
- Last year economy in India did slow down but its temporary
- India was among the fastest growing economy with average growth rate of 8 per cent in nine years including years of slow growth
- Economic situation is turning around, inflation is under control
- Confident that growth in 2013-14 could exceed 6 per cent, this could set the stage for achieving 12th Plan target of 8 per cent growth
- Faster agricultural growth combined in government programs such as NREGA have improved real wages of agricultural labour
- Agricultural wages grew at 6.8 per cent per year which is six times faster than the rate of growth between 1994-2004
- Impact of our policies in rural areas can be seen: rural per capita consumption grew real term at 3.4 per cent per year
- Percentage of people below poverty line has fallen much faster after 2004 than earlier
- Many feel official poverty line was too low, experts have been employed to look into this
- Growth has also spread to erstwhile backwards states
- Literacy has improved
- Polio has been wiped out
- Public debate focuses less on what has been achieved and more on whatever is yet to be done
- Quality is still an issue, we will push hard
- Will say to critics that in many of these areas, since the glass was almost empty when we started, it'll take some time before it is full
- Important point is it is being filled
- Assurance of safety and security for every citizen especially women
- Public services will be delivered to specified standards
- Freedom from delays and harassment which breed graft and corruption and has to be rid of
- Elimination of corruption in procurement and allocation decisions of government
- Problems aren't unique to India
- Demand to remedy them has risen all over the world
- People access information that puts pressure on system to take corrective measures
- We've introduced Lokpal Bill
- We've introduced government procurement bill which will make process of government procurement and content much more transparent
- Introduced land acquisition bill to replace an old and highly colonial legislation
- Much is made of problems that arose the way scarce resources were allocated in the past
- We've introduced auctions rather than relying on administrative allocations
- Improving quality of governance in a vast nation like ours is a challenge
- Both centre and state have to act to deal with this problem
- UPA government has done more in this area than any other government
- Rise of India as an economic powerhouse of the world is an idea whose time has come
- India has engaged with International community as the fastest growing democracy in the world
- Our improving economic performance and talent of people has enable us to build bridges with both developed and developing countries
- Deepened relationships with US, Russia and Europe
- Our government has taken lead in India's active participation in Asia's community building
- India is warmly welcomed to every Asian and Asia-Pacific forums
- We've increased economic cooperation all-round the Indian subcontinent
- What message does this experience of nine years convey to young people about to enter their working life
- UPA government is working to realize your dream of an economically, socially just India. An India where everyone can expect to live a life of security and dignity
- To participate and benefit in one of the great historical transformations which will take in next 20 years, re-emergence of India in Asia
- Under the leadership of our Chairperson, UPA government is about to bring this transformation in which all our people will benefit and participate
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi speaks:
- This is an appropriate moment to celebrate, also to reflect on what we have done in past nine years
- We've never deviated from our priorities, to address needs of our people mainly weaker sections, pay special attention to farmers, to strive for a growing dynamic economy which is inclusive
- Can anyone question the magnitude of the changes we have been able to bring about
- All state across party lines have received unprecedented assistance from government for development schemes
- Government is subject to strict transparency and accountability as a result of the laws put in place
- Weaker sections of society have been further empowered through many effective initiatives
- Never before has procurement prices for farmers increased in last nine years, led to a record of food grain production
- Never before have so many of our children been in schools and colleges aspiring for a better future
- We see the making of an economic recovery
- We expect high growth to return, look forward to a renewed momentum in our programs
- Can't hide at deep sense of disappointment at the way Parliament has been prevented from functioning and fulfilling is role and obligations by principal opposition party
- We offered to debate and discuss all issues but Parliament wasn't allowed to function due to obstructionist approach
- We still have time to fulfill our duties to our people
- Want to make fervent plea to NDA, Opposition parties, let us come together for food security, land acquisition and other important bills
- These bills affect lives and livelihood of millions whom we are committed to represent and benefit
- We have nothing to hide, nothing to feel defensive about
- We need to be aware that there has been a deliberate attempt to create innuendo and spread false news to confuse and demoralize people
- PM has been fulfilling responsibilities with great dignity irrespective of the opposition
- We respect him and we all stand by him
- We won't get distracted by ground of morals being created around us
- We will continue to look ahead with confidence
- People of India will recognise our efforts and what we have accomplished