In his comprehensive address to the 44th Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan convened by the President of India, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh touched upon vital policy matters and other concerns of his Government. Read between the lines, the address touches on almost all outstanding aspects of current situation in the country, and how the Government proposes to face the challenges thrown up by security, economy, social imperatives and related matters. In regard to Kashmir, the PM thinks that situation has improved further but cautioning the nation that in the light of the recent event on the LoC, his Government would not accept uncivilized behavior of the neighbouring country despite the fact that as national policy, India wants good relations with her neighbours. He hinted that we had to understand the dynamics of Pakistan’s domestic perils and its seriousness.
He said that whatever the situation, the country had to concentrate on improving all faces of internal and external security and allow no complacence in it. He exuded confidence that Home Minister Susheelkumar Shinde had been giving him updated review of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and the situation in about 82 districts of the country which were backward and economically weak and where Left extremists were actively involved in violence related activities. In the process, the Prime Minister was very appreciative of Governor Vohra’s constructive suggestions in improving the infrastructural preparedness to meet insurgency and terror with which the country is faced now. The PM was satisfied with the steps already taken to contain terrorism but said that much more needed to be done in this behalf. Listing the steps taken by the Government, Dr. Singh said they include deploying additional central forces, raising specialized forces, strengthening police stations and imparting training to State police personnel in counter insurgency, jungle warfare and anti-terrorist operations. He said that there was need of greater inter-state coordination in operations against Left wing extremists.
The Prime Minister spoke at length on current economic and financial status of the country and said that our development rate had come down to 5 per cent which was much below the target fixed earlier. Discussing the technicalities of financial status, the Prime Minister said that both internal and external factors had contributed to slow down in our rate of growth. But notwithstanding the challenges and difficulties in the way of recouping our economy, the government was seized of the situation and was doing all it could to arrest the downslide. During the quarter September to December last, he said, some signs of arresting the downslide had become visible and according to the Finance Minister it was possible to maintain our growth rate at 5.3 per cent. The Government intends to fast track the investment proposals, with particular focus on clearances from the environment and forest angles as well as towards removal of infrastructural bottlenecks.
The Prime Minister also dealt with the shocking incident of gang-rape of a 23-year old girl in Delhi and said that there was the need of streamlining the functionality of the police establishment in a manner that security and safety of women in the country are made foolproof. He said the law governing the cases of rape and molestation of women needed to be amended to meet the requirements of the day and with this in mind the Government had decided to bring in an ordinance. The inhuman and barbarous case had shocked the collective conscience of the nation. The Government was prompt in implementing the recommendations of J.S. Verma Committee which had submitted its report only recently.
The PM also touched on the matter of improving the lot of scheduled and backward areas in the country and implored upon the Governors to personally look into the efforts of raising the standard of life in scheduled and backward areas. The PM has laid emphasis on water management and said that as a result of various schemes floated by the Centre and the States, 70 per cent of the people in rural areas had access to clean and drinkable water. His address is insightful. Though in certain cases it is rather pessimistic, but the PM has indicated that the Government is aware of where deficit is glaring and how it can be met through proper methodology on which his Government is working.
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