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President unveils new
deal for rural India
What is India News Service,
Saturday, 26 February 2005, 1700 hrs IST
President Abdul Kalam unveiled what he described as a
\93New Deal for
Rural India\94 or \91Bharat Nirman\92 involving reversing the declining trend in
investment in agriculture, stepping up credit flow to farmers, enhancing public
investment in irrigation and creating a single market for agricultural produce.
He outlined \93my government\92s commitment\94 to
investing in rural healthcare and education, promoting rural electrification and
rural roads coupled with setting up commodities futures markets and insuring
against risk in farming and rural business.
Drawing upon the Congress led-UPA government\92s pledges contained in the
National Common Minimum Programme, the President focussed on a wide array of
issues for the uplift of the poor and underprivileged sections with special
focus and emphasis on the pre-dominant agrarian sector.
Mr Kalam touched upon the farm insurance scheme, mass action for water
conservation, the proposed national horticulture mission and a new scheme to
promote micro irrigation and pursuing public-private partnership for the
development of the agriculture sector, especially in rural infrastructure.
He disclosed that modernisation of the armed forces was one of several
priority areas for the government encompassing generating employment along with
the Prime Minister heading the National Committee on Rural Infrastructure,
striving for a new knowledge revolution through a National Knowledge Commission
and spending on public health being doubled to 2 per cent of the GDP.
"Government
committed to common man'': These 12 words in the President, A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam's 8,000-word address to Parliament, at the start of the Budget session,
define the Manmohan Singh Government's agenda, demonstratively rigged in favour
of the common man".
Jolt for Congress:
Already faced with the RJD\92s ire, the Congress received another jolt
today when one more dependable ally, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, upped the ante by
\93recalling\94 his ministers to Chennai for a special review meeting on Sunday. Mr
Karunanidhi has taken umbrage to the derogatory and personal remarks made by
Congress leader and Union minister of state E.V.K.S. Elangovan at a party
meeting.
NDA to boycott Rail Budget: The Opposition will boycott presentation of Rail
budget in Parliament by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday.
PMO not preparing Railway Budget, say Lalu: The Railway Minister, Lalu
Prasad, today dismissed as "mischievous" reports that the PMO was preparing his
Ministry's budget. ``It is not true. It is mischievous," he said.
ESPN-Star Sports may take legal action against Prasar Bharati: Denied the
opportunity to telecast match highlights of the India-Pakistan cricket series,
ESPN-Star Sports (ESS) today said that it was "prepared to use other avenues,
including legal option," against Prasar Bharati.
States
Brotherly brawl ends in gunshots: Tragedy struck the family of a Ghaziabad-based
copper industrialist on Thursday night, when in a fit of anger, Vikram Bahal
shot at his two industrialist brothers - Vinod and Vijay with his licensed
revolver before shooting himself. The incident took place when their mother was
present along with other women in the family.
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Sri Dashmesh Academy to shut down on March 31:
A prestigious educational institute of
North India, Sri Dasmesh Academy of Anandpur Sahib will be closed down on March
31. The fact become clear today as the management of the academy issued
termination notices to all employees.
Rane justifies Governor's action: The Goa Chief Minister, Pratapsinh Rane,
has justified in the Supreme Court the action of the Governor, S.C. Jamir, in
dismissing the BJP Government led by Manohar Parikkar on February 2.
Which partner, ponders Paswan: For Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)
president Ram Vilas Paswan, it will be a tough call to stick to his oft-declared
stand to treat both the NDA and RJD as pariahs in case of a hung Assembly
scenario in Bihar.
Neighbours
Musharraf sets up website, opens window to musings:
Kargil made India wake up to the terror called General Pervez Musharraf. The man
who gave the Indian establishment those sleepless nights back in 1999 remains an
abiding enigma, difficult to be straitjacketed.
Pakistan backs Afghanistan's entry into SAARC: Pakistan today supported a
suggestion made by the Afghanistan President, Hamid Karzai, that Kabul should
join the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Overall
Kalam launched new deal for rural India:
He said his government was committed to
investing in rural healthcare and education
Pakistan wanted Afghanistan in Saarc: It supported a suggestion by Afghan
president Karzai that Kabul should join Saarc.
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