By IANS,
Chandigarh : Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni Monday said the United Progressive Alliance government has done well during the times of financial meltdown and drought, and the country is expecting good economic growth.
“Despite the drought and global economic crisis, India has been able to manage a growth rate of 7.5 per cent with an expectation of 8.5 per cent in the future. India’s economy has comparatively done much better than the economies of the other countries in the past two years,” Soni told reporters here.
“This was the result of the economic policies of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is now invited by forums like G-20 and G-8 for his opinion on economic issues,” she said.
On price rise, Soni said the government was concerned and “all measures are being taken to bring it under control.”
She said a number of measures have been taken by the UPA government in the first year of its second term which included clearing of the right to education bill, passing the women’s reservation bill in the Rajya Sabha and preparation of the food security bill.
Soni was here to file the nomination papers for the elections of Rajya Sabha. Balwinder Singh Bhunder of Akali Dal has also filed the nomination papers for the elections to fill two vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
Soni said the problem of contaminated water had become a serious issue in Punjab and water borne diseases were on the rise.
“Cancer, diseases related to liver and kidney are severely afflicting the youth of this state. I promise to take up this issue of contaminated water with the central government and find a lasting solution to this problem,” she said.