Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised further steps to reduce corruption and ensure transparency in governance.
"We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption," the prime minister said in his address to the nation on Independence Day.
"But we will also take care that these measures do not result in a situation in which the morale of public functionaries... gets affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary litigation," he said.
The prime minister said he was committed to making the work of the government and administration transparent and accountable.
"Our commitment to make the work of the government and administration transparent and accountable stands," he said.
He reminded people of his promise last year that anti-corruption steps would be taken and pointed out that the Lok Sabha had cleared the Lokpal and Lokayukta bill.
"We hope that all political parties will help us in passing this bill in the Rajya Sabha," he said.
Stating a number of other bills have been presented in the Parliament, the prime minister said the cabinet had cleared a Public Procurement Bill, which aims to make government procurement processes more transparent.
Malnutrition in children a big challenge: PM
Malnutrition in children is a big challenge for India but the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had taken steps to deal with the problem, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday.
Addressing the nation on the 66th Independence Day, the prime minister said: "Malnutrition in children is a big challenge for us. We have taken steps in many dimensions to deal with this problem."
"In the last eight years, the number of mothers and children benefiting from the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service) has doubled," he said.
The prime minister said that the process of making ICDS more effective was in its last stages and would be completed in the next one or two months.
Focussed on welfare schemes for SC, ST, minorities: PM
The government was giving special attention to the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections, including the minorities, by coming out with programmes that benefit them, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday.
"Our government has paid special attention to the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, women and other weaker sections," the prime minister said in his Independence Day speech.
"The special needs of our tribal and backward districts are being met through programmes such as the Integrated Action Plan, Backward Regions Grant Fund and Tribal Sub Plan," he said while addressing the nation from Red Fort.
Through the Forest Rights Act, he said, proprietary rights had been given to lakhs of people belonging to Scheduled Tribes on land on which they have been living for generations.
"We are formulating a scheme to ensure that people belonging to Scheduled Tribes can get fair and remunerative prices for the forest produce they collect," he added.
"The government wants to speedily convert the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill into a legislation. Through this law we want to provide funds for the benefit of our tribal brothers and sisters in the mining areas," he said.
He said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government wants to make the 15 points programme for the minority community more effective.
The prime minister's 15 point-programme has zeroed in on four key objectives for minority welfare -- enhancing opportunities for education, ensuring equitable share in economic activities and employment, improving their living conditions and prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence.
The plan is also to improve the representation of minorities in government service and measures to encourage children's education.
The programme was unveiled in 2006 by recasting the earlier plan for minorities, launched in 1983 by the Indira Gandhi government. The re-launched programme stipulates that wherever possible 15 percent of targets and outlays under various schemes will be earmarked for the minorities.
The prime minister also said the government will further expand the multi-sectoral development programme in districts with large minority populations.
He also said that the government has further decided to enhance the amount of post-matric scholarship for children belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities to give them better opportunities.
"Our efforts to make these scholarship schemes more effective will continue," he said in his ninth address the nation.
Happy that youth interested in country's progress: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he was "happy" that more and more people, especially the young, were taking interest in issues related to progress of the country and society.
"In my first message to the country after assuming the office of prime minister I had appealed to you to contribute to the sacred work of nation building," he said in his Independence Day speech.
"I am very happy that today more of our citizens than ever before, and specially the youth, are taking interest in issues related to the progress of our society and country," he said while addressing the nation from the Red Fort.
He said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government believed that the difficult problems India faced could be resolved only with the cooperation of the common man.
"It will be our endeavour that in the coming time, still more people help us in tasks like removal of poverty, illiteracy and inequality," he said.
He said no power in the world could stop India from achieving new heights.
"I believe that no power in the world can stop our country from achieving new heights of progress and development. What is needed is that we work together as one people for the success of our country. Let us once more resolve that we will continue to work for a progressive, modern and prosperous India," he said in his ninth address to the nation.
India needs to be poverty free, says PM
India will deemed to have achieved true independence only when it abolishes poverty, illiteracy and hunger, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared Wednesday.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Manmohan Singh said the country had achieved "much in these 65 years" since British colonial rule ended.
"Today is certainly a day to celebrate the success of our democracy," he said.
"However, on this occasion we should also introspect about what remains to be done.
"We would achieve independence in the true sense only when we are able to banish poverty, illiteracy, hunger and backwardness from our country.
"This would be possible only when we learn from our failures and build on our successes."
Achieved success in internal security: PM
The government had achieved success in many areas of internal security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday, citing the example of Jammu and Kashmir where people had participated in large numbers in the panchayat elections.
"The government had achieved success in many areas of internal security. In Jammu and Kashmir, people participated in large numbers in the panchayat elections," Manmohan Singh said while addressing the nation on its 66th Independence Day.
"There has been a reduction in violence in the northeastern states," he said, adding that the government was "engaged in dialogue with many groups there so that they can join the mainstream of development".
He also listed efforts to deal with the Maoist problem.
"Maoism is still a serious problem. We have initiated new schemes of development in areas affected by Maoist violence to ensure that the grievances of the people residing there, especially our brothers and sisters belonging to Scheduled Tribes, can be removed and their lot can be improved," said the prime minister.
He stressed the need to be constantly vigilant as far as internal security was concerned and said communal harmony had to be maintained at all costs.
Citing the recent blasts in Pune early this month, he said more work needed to be done in the area of national security.
Government to act promptly on defence issues
The government will take "prompt action" when suggestions are made related to the pay and pensions of armed forces personnel, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday.
"Our government has set up a committee to examine issues relating to (the) pay and pension," the prime minister said in his national address on the occasion of India's Independence Day.
"This committee will also look into matters concerning pension of retired men and officers and family pension.
"We will take prompt action on the recommendations of the (official) committee, once they are received."
The prime minister said he would like to thank "our security forces, who are guarding our frontiers bravely, from the bottom of my heart. We will continue to make efforts for their welfare".
No new case of polio in 18 months: PM
No new case of polio had been reported in the country in the last one and a half years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.
Addressing the nation on India's 66th Independence Day, the prime minister said: "India does not figure in the list of countries affected by this disease."
Th World Health Organisation (WHO) took India, which in 2009 had more polio cases than any other nation in the world, off its polio endemic list early this year after not a single case of the crippling disease was reported for over a year.
India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan are the four countries where polio is still endemic.
"We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption," the prime minister said in his address to the nation on Independence Day.
"But we will also take care that these measures do not result in a situation in which the morale of public functionaries... gets affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary litigation," he said.
The prime minister said he was committed to making the work of the government and administration transparent and accountable.
"Our commitment to make the work of the government and administration transparent and accountable stands," he said.
He reminded people of his promise last year that anti-corruption steps would be taken and pointed out that the Lok Sabha had cleared the Lokpal and Lokayukta bill.
"We hope that all political parties will help us in passing this bill in the Rajya Sabha," he said.
Stating a number of other bills have been presented in the Parliament, the prime minister said the cabinet had cleared a Public Procurement Bill, which aims to make government procurement processes more transparent.
Malnutrition in children a big challenge: PM
Malnutrition in children is a big challenge for India but the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had taken steps to deal with the problem, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday.
Addressing the nation on the 66th Independence Day, the prime minister said: "Malnutrition in children is a big challenge for us. We have taken steps in many dimensions to deal with this problem."
"In the last eight years, the number of mothers and children benefiting from the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service) has doubled," he said.
The prime minister said that the process of making ICDS more effective was in its last stages and would be completed in the next one or two months.
Focussed on welfare schemes for SC, ST, minorities: PM
The government was giving special attention to the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections, including the minorities, by coming out with programmes that benefit them, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday.
"Our government has paid special attention to the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, women and other weaker sections," the prime minister said in his Independence Day speech.
"The special needs of our tribal and backward districts are being met through programmes such as the Integrated Action Plan, Backward Regions Grant Fund and Tribal Sub Plan," he said while addressing the nation from Red Fort.
Through the Forest Rights Act, he said, proprietary rights had been given to lakhs of people belonging to Scheduled Tribes on land on which they have been living for generations.
"We are formulating a scheme to ensure that people belonging to Scheduled Tribes can get fair and remunerative prices for the forest produce they collect," he added.
"The government wants to speedily convert the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill into a legislation. Through this law we want to provide funds for the benefit of our tribal brothers and sisters in the mining areas," he said.
He said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government wants to make the 15 points programme for the minority community more effective.
The prime minister's 15 point-programme has zeroed in on four key objectives for minority welfare -- enhancing opportunities for education, ensuring equitable share in economic activities and employment, improving their living conditions and prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence.
The plan is also to improve the representation of minorities in government service and measures to encourage children's education.
The programme was unveiled in 2006 by recasting the earlier plan for minorities, launched in 1983 by the Indira Gandhi government. The re-launched programme stipulates that wherever possible 15 percent of targets and outlays under various schemes will be earmarked for the minorities.
The prime minister also said the government will further expand the multi-sectoral development programme in districts with large minority populations.
He also said that the government has further decided to enhance the amount of post-matric scholarship for children belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities to give them better opportunities.
"Our efforts to make these scholarship schemes more effective will continue," he said in his ninth address the nation.
Happy that youth interested in country's progress: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he was "happy" that more and more people, especially the young, were taking interest in issues related to progress of the country and society.
"In my first message to the country after assuming the office of prime minister I had appealed to you to contribute to the sacred work of nation building," he said in his Independence Day speech.
"I am very happy that today more of our citizens than ever before, and specially the youth, are taking interest in issues related to the progress of our society and country," he said while addressing the nation from the Red Fort.
He said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government believed that the difficult problems India faced could be resolved only with the cooperation of the common man.
"It will be our endeavour that in the coming time, still more people help us in tasks like removal of poverty, illiteracy and inequality," he said.
He said no power in the world could stop India from achieving new heights.
"I believe that no power in the world can stop our country from achieving new heights of progress and development. What is needed is that we work together as one people for the success of our country. Let us once more resolve that we will continue to work for a progressive, modern and prosperous India," he said in his ninth address to the nation.
India needs to be poverty free, says PM
India will deemed to have achieved true independence only when it abolishes poverty, illiteracy and hunger, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared Wednesday.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Manmohan Singh said the country had achieved "much in these 65 years" since British colonial rule ended.
"Today is certainly a day to celebrate the success of our democracy," he said.
"However, on this occasion we should also introspect about what remains to be done.
"We would achieve independence in the true sense only when we are able to banish poverty, illiteracy, hunger and backwardness from our country.
"This would be possible only when we learn from our failures and build on our successes."
Achieved success in internal security: PM
The government had achieved success in many areas of internal security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday, citing the example of Jammu and Kashmir where people had participated in large numbers in the panchayat elections.
"The government had achieved success in many areas of internal security. In Jammu and Kashmir, people participated in large numbers in the panchayat elections," Manmohan Singh said while addressing the nation on its 66th Independence Day.
"There has been a reduction in violence in the northeastern states," he said, adding that the government was "engaged in dialogue with many groups there so that they can join the mainstream of development".
He also listed efforts to deal with the Maoist problem.
"Maoism is still a serious problem. We have initiated new schemes of development in areas affected by Maoist violence to ensure that the grievances of the people residing there, especially our brothers and sisters belonging to Scheduled Tribes, can be removed and their lot can be improved," said the prime minister.
He stressed the need to be constantly vigilant as far as internal security was concerned and said communal harmony had to be maintained at all costs.
Citing the recent blasts in Pune early this month, he said more work needed to be done in the area of national security.
Government to act promptly on defence issues
The government will take "prompt action" when suggestions are made related to the pay and pensions of armed forces personnel, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday.
"Our government has set up a committee to examine issues relating to (the) pay and pension," the prime minister said in his national address on the occasion of India's Independence Day.
"This committee will also look into matters concerning pension of retired men and officers and family pension.
"We will take prompt action on the recommendations of the (official) committee, once they are received."
The prime minister said he would like to thank "our security forces, who are guarding our frontiers bravely, from the bottom of my heart. We will continue to make efforts for their welfare".
No new case of polio in 18 months: PM
No new case of polio had been reported in the country in the last one and a half years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.
Addressing the nation on India's 66th Independence Day, the prime minister said: "India does not figure in the list of countries affected by this disease."
Th World Health Organisation (WHO) took India, which in 2009 had more polio cases than any other nation in the world, off its polio endemic list early this year after not a single case of the crippling disease was reported for over a year.
India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan are the four countries where polio is still endemic.
