|
The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhwat has underlined the need for creating an environment of healthy centre-state relations and better inter-State cooperation. Speaking as the Chief Guest at the `India Today conclave of Chief Ministers’ here today the Vice President said that it is rather unfortunate that several inter-State disputes, particularly the water disputes, are lingering for years, resulting in unaffordable delay in harnessing the full potential of our precious water resources and causing tremendous opportunity loss of economic growth and development. “I would, therefore, plead for the need of expeditiously resolving all problems and pending disputes in the larger interest of our people”, he added.
The Vice President said that “We need development that promotes growth with equity. To me growth does not mean just some percentage increase in GDP. We do not need jobless growth. We need growth that creates employment opportunities; growth that alleviates poverty and bridges the gap between the rich and the poor. We need development that eradicates illiteracy, development that provides the common man with access to basic education, health-care and shelter”, he said.
The Vice President urged the media for greater focus on initiative for better governance and promoting the welfare of the common man. “Today, several initiatives are being successfully undertaken even in remote areas. Let us actively generate awareness about these good practices and success stories; this would encourage their adoption and replication in other parts of the country as well”, he added.
The following is the full text of the Vice President’s address:
“I am very happy to be here amidst you this afternoon especially when now-a-days it is rather rare to get an opportunity to be in the company of Chief Ministers. I sadly miss the good old times when as Chief Minister of Rajasthan I used to participate in the meetings and conferences of Chief Ministers. I therefore, express my gratitude to Shri Prabhu Chawla for giving me the opportunity to be here in this Conclave of Chief Ministers.
This Conclave is now a prominent annual event where in the open house and under full media glare, the issues of development in the States are discussed freely and frankly with the objective of giving thrust to the pace of development and achieve full potential of growth. I congratulate India Today for this very laudable initiative. This shows that India Today not only believes in the age old maxim ‘act act in the living present’ but is also engaged in efforts for building a better ‘tomorrow’.
Friends, we are indeed very fortunate that our ‘today’ is certainly much better than what our ‘yesterday’ was. The significant progress since attaining independence is a triumph of our democracy. We are today the world’s fourth largest economy with the second highest rate of GDP growth. Now we are also being recognised as a responsible nuclear power in the world. These achievements naturally make us so very proud.
However, when we introspect and look at the other side, we find that we have miles and miles yet to go. Our biggest challenge is alleviation of poverty of 26 Crore people living below the poverty line suffering from the curse of illiteracy, disease and hunger. Equally important is the challenge of speeding up our growth and achieve the vision of being a fully developed nation before 2020.
Friends, the true success of democracy lies in promoting people’s welfare; that alone generates trust and faith of the people in the system. I therefore regard people’s welfare as the fifth pillar of democracy. It is this pillar which is central to the stability and strength of the edifice of democracy. All the four estates of democracy ought to nurture and strengthen this central pillar that will sustain people’s faith in democracy as an effective system to promote their welfare. That alone will lay the foundation of a better tomorrow for our people.
Friends, in the task of building the India of tomorrow, the most important role is to be played by the Chief Ministers. India is a Union of States; it is the States where real action for development lies. In fact the real engines of country’s growth are its States. Chief Ministers of the States know what needs to be done to overcome under-development and promote growth. A Chief Minister knows best how to promote agriculture and rural development, ensure economic empowerment of the farmers to rescue them from the tyranny of indebtedness which sometimes is the cause of unfortunate cases of farmers’ suicide. Chief Ministers know how to take care of key national concerns such as population stabilization, awareness to control HIV/AIDS, protection of environment and ecology. They also very well know the importance to be attached to infrastructure development without which investments for growth do not take place.
The need today is to have a holistic approach for development. What we need is planning and action for integrated development. Even more important is to determine the content of development. We need development that promotes growth with equity. To me growth does not mean just some percentage increase in GDP. We do not need jobless growth. We need growth that creates employment opportunities; growth that alleviates poverty and bridges the gap between the rich and the poor. We need development that eradicates illiteracy, development that provides the common man with access to basic education, health-care and shelter. We need development which begins with welfare of the poorest amongst the poor. It was this conviction with which I had launched the Antyodaya scheme in Rajasthan in the year 1977. Indeed the goal of promoting the welfare of the poor and the common man should be at the centre stage of our action plans for growth and development. I, therefore, find it very heartening that some States have now started bringing out Human Development Reports; this signifies a welcome shift in their focus on content and direction of development.
Friends, the objective of speedy growth and promoting people’s welfare will be achieved only through governance that is efficient as well as corruption-free. Quality of governance is today the most important determinant of performance. In any system of good governance, it is also necessary to have ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’. As you are aware, we now have the Right to Information Act. I would urge the Hon’ble Chief Ministers to use this law as an effective instrument of improving the efficiency of delivery system in all our public programmes such as Public Distribution system, schemes for employment generation and various rural development works through widest possible dissemination and sharing of information on progress of their implementation. Then alone the intended benefits of these programmes would reach the needy poor in full measure; then only the financial allocations for these programmes would get converted into real achievements.
Hon’ble Chief Ministers, I would like to share one more thought with you. The challenging task of nation building and achieving higher rate of growth requires fullest cooperation and participation by all sections of society. We need an environment of healthy Centre-State relations and better inter-State cooperation. It is rather unfortunate that several inter-State disputes, particularly the water disputes, are lingering for years, resulting in unaffordable delay in harnessing the full potential of our precious water resources and causing tremendous opportunity loss of economic growth and development. A State may have its own psychology of pursuing its self-interest; however, we cannot afford to abdicate our combined obligation and joint responsibility towards our countrymen to evolve and design a system that works in the best interest of all concerned. I would, therefore, plead for the need of expeditiously resolving all problems and pending disputes in the larger interest of our people.
My friends in the media, you constitute the fourth estate of our democracy. With the tremendous power and influence at your command, you are uniquely placed to play a big and effective role in the task of building a national mood for good governance, growth and development. I, therefore, urge the media for greater focus on initiatives for better governance and aimed at promoting welfare of the common man. Today, several initiatives are being successfully undertaken even in remote areas. Let us actively generate awareness about these good practices and success stories; this would encourage their adoption and replication in other parts of the country as well.
Media can also be of great support to our Chief Ministers who face formidable challenges in pursuing the path of progress and development particularly in a scenario of increasing resource crunch. Only the Chief Ministers know how rough is the road of development and what it means to overcome road-blocks and speed-breakers. They very much need your helping hand of constructive support to their positive initiatives.
Ladies & gentlemen, let all of us join the race of growth and development. And we must run this race fast. The eyes of our youth are focused on our actions. They are anxiously looking forward to the vision of a fully developed and prosperous India before the year 2020. All of us have an obligation to keep our promises and give them a better tomorrow. Renewal of our assurance and determination to work in this direction, in my view, would be the real success of today’s Conclave.
Finally, let me say a word about the awards being given today to recognise and encourage good performance by the States as measured and judged in your study. To me the real significance of today’s awards lies in bringing into focus the importance of balanced socio-economic content of development; for economic growth alone cannot ensure social progress. Moreover, for people in public life, and particularly those in the high position of Chief Minister of a State, the real award is the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment derived from fructification of their efforts in overcoming under-development, alleviation of poverty and promoting people’s welfare. Such awards alone are their true treasure. I wish them all success and many awards in future.
Friends, I once again thank India Today for having given me the opportunity to be here at the Conclave. It has indeed been a great pleasure to share my thoughts with you all.”
AK/SK/JA
|
