By Andalib Akhter, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The newly formed UPA government at centre today pledged to accord highest priority to the welfare of minorities. Unveiling the agenda of governance for next five years, the President of India Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil said: “My Government will continue to accord the highest priority to the welfare of minorities”. She was addressing first joint session of new parliament held after commencement of 15th Lok Sabha.
She said that communal harmony would be preserved at all costs. “The mandate my Government received was unmistakable in that the people wanted the country’s secular fabric to be protected” she said adding her Government would seek early approval of the Bill introduced in Parliament for the prevention of communal violence.
Mrs. Patil said that the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities and the action taken on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee have, to some extent, succeeded in ensuring an equitable share for the minorities in government resources, jobs and plans. She said that the steps under way would be consolidated further.
“Government would strive to strengthen and modernize the administration of wakfs, reform the management of Haj operations and set up an Equal Opportunity Commission”, the president promised.
On relations with neighbours the president said that her Government would seek to reshape relationship with Pakistan depending on the sincerity of Pakistan’s actions to confront groups who launch terrorist attacks against India from its territory. She said India would support initiatives in Sri Lanka, which could lead to a permanent political solution of the conflict there and ensure that all Sri Lankan communities, especially the Tamils, feel secure and enjoy equal rights. She said that Nepal and Bangladesh, where multi-party democracy has returned, India would work closely with both countries to continue expanding bilateral ties for mutual benefit. She also promised to strengthen close and vibrant partnerships with Bhutan and Maldives and Afghanistan.
“The highest priority will be accorded to working with our friends in SAARC to promote stability, development and prosperity in the region. Government will sincerely work with our neighbours to ensure that outstanding issues are addressed and the full potential of our region is realized”, she said.
The President said that the new Government would considerably enhance provisions for social security through old age pension for all people below the poverty line and above 65 years of age, all handicapped people and all widows above the age of forty. “It will examine extending social protection to other persons at special risk. Social security schemes for other occupations like landless labour, weavers, fisherfolk, toddy tappers, leather workers, plantation labour, construction labour, mine workers and beedi workers will be appropriately expanded” she said.