'Wipe Every Tear From Every Eye'

Full text of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s address to the nation to broadcast/telecast todayover All India Radio/Doordarshan: 


"My Fellow Citizens,

I speak to you with a deep sense of humility, fully conscious of the sacred responsibility entrusted to me.You have assigned the task of governance of our country to the United Progressive Alliance and its supportingparties. You have delivered your verdict and the verdict is clear. You have sought a change in the manner inwhich this country is run, a change in national priorities, and a change in the processes and focus ofgovernance. You have, through your mandate, made it clear that economic growth has to be accompanied by equityand social justice. You have expressed concern for the poor and disadvantaged sections of our society and forminorities and backward regions to be at the heart of all policies of the government.

As I share with you the priorities of our government, I am reminded of the Father of our Nation, MahatmaGandhi. Gandhiji had said that his mission in life was ‘to wipe every tear from every eye.’ Think of thepoorest person you have ever seen, Gandhiji would say, ‘and ask if your next act will be of any use tohim.’ That message of Bapu resonates in our ears as we settle down to the business of government.

The National Common Minimum Programme has been prepared by us keeping in mind the priorities brought intofocus by your mandate. The Address of the President of India to Parliament outlines a comprehensive agenda forthe nation to which our government is committed. The country would have benefited if Parliament had beenallowed to discuss the President’s Address. I was eagerly looking forward to contributions from all partiesin this discussion. Unfortunately, this was not allowed to happen. It should be a matter of deep concern forall of us when established mechanisms for a constructive dialogue and critique, which are vital for aparliamentary democracy, are disrupted and not allowed to operate. 

Parliament is a forum, which is sacred, and it must be our collective endeavour to ensure that we maximize itseffectiveness. I request parties across the entire political spectrum to respect Parliament as an essentialforum for public debate so that we can move forward on the task of nation-building which is a common goal forone and all. We can justly take pride in the fact that since Independence we have been able, with our efforts,to build the foundations of a modern economy and record an acceleration in the rate of economic growth. Therehave been impressive gains in terms of the educational and health status of the nation. However, the benefitsof this performance have not touched all our citizens in equal measure. Growth is not an end in itself. It isa means to generate employment, banish poverty, hunger and homelessness and improve the standard of living ofthe mass of our people. It must also be environmentally sustainable.

Equity and efficiency are complimentary, not contradictory, and we must move forward on both these whilemaintaining a high degree of fiscal and financial discipline, and a robust external economic profile.

To be able to devote our attention and energy to economic development that improves the lives of our people,we must ensure social and political stability, communal harmony and respect for the rule of law. We must putin place policies and programmes, which empower all our citizens to lead a life of dignity and self-respect.Our government is committed to the security and welfare of all minorities, the protection of the interests ofthe scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, of backward classes and all weaker sections. Equally we arecommitted to the empowerment of women. We will ensure equal participation of all in the processes ofgovernance.

The essence of the National Common Minimum Programme is the recognition that policies that are aimed atpromoting economic growth must also advance the cause of distributive justice and create new employmentopportunities. Economic reform is not only about freeing private enterprise from the shackles of bureaucraticcontrol. It is also about making the government more effective, efficient and people friendly so that it canhandle better the many tasks that only Governments can perform. And, it is also about ensuring fair andtransparent regulation of the market where this is necessary. While many in our country are benefiting fromtheir integration into the market and the global economy, millions of our citizens are still plagued byilliteracy, disease, want, hunger and malnutrition. Gender disparities are high and educational, nutritionaland health levels of women are much lower than of men. Chronic poverty afflicts millions who lack income andfood security. This is particularly acute among the scheduled castes, other backward castes and scheduledtribes. At a regional level, too, the disparities are high and while some regions of the country seem to be onan accelerating growth path, there is a concern that other regions are not only lagging but are also fallingbehind. Regrettably, minorities suffer from not only economic insecurity but also a sense of marginalizationfrom political and governance processes.

As a nation, we cannot accept such disparities. We have been given a mandate, which enjoins us to be sensitiveto the concerns of these deprived sections and regions. We have an obligation to ensure that they too benefitfrom growth in full measure. Our commitment to investments in the social sectors is rooted in this reality. Itis the responsibility of government, at all levels, at the Centre, in the States and at the level of thecommunity, to address each of these economic and social challenges. However, I am convinced that thegovernment, at every level, is today not adequately equipped and attuned to deal with this challenge and meetthe aspirations of the people. To be able to do so, we require the reform of government and of publicinstitutions. Much of the focus of economic reforms in the past decade has been on reducing the role of thegovernment in controlling the Private Sector; controls that hampered entrepreneurial dynamism and often bredcorruption. This was necessary. Yet, there are many areas, critical areas, that directly affect the quality oflife of every citizen, where the government has a role, and is expected by every citizen to have a role. Theseinclude the provision of social and physical infrastructure for development, the provision of elementaryeducation and public health, providing drinking water and sanitation. They also include economicinfrastructure, which in our country in large part must be provided by the Government such as irrigation,power, roads and railways. Our people expect the government to be pro-active and sensitive to their needs. Ineach of these areas, at every level of governance, the reform of government is today an urgent task before us.

We will pursue economic reform and widen the space for individual initiative and enterprise, but even as we doso, we cannot forsake the obligation of running a government that works, and works for the people. The reformof administration and of public institutions to improve efficiency and the quality of delivery services willbe our immediate priority.

There has been a neglect of the interests of the farmers in recent years and this is reflected in asignificant slowing down in agricultural growth in the past five years. Farmers in many parts of the countryhave faced distress and there has been no helping hand. The National Common Minimum Programme of the UnitedProgressive Alliance is committed to giving a "New Deal" to rural India. Agriculture must receivethe priority attention it deserves. Public and private investment in agriculture has to be greatly increased.A key concern in recent years has been the lack of access to credit. Our government is already addressing thisissue directly by pursuing policies that improve the farmer’s access to affordable credit. Agriculturalresearch, training and extension also require much greater attention. I would like to see the emergence of newcenters of excellence in agriculture, as we have in technology and management. There has to be a sharper focuson expanding opportunities for gainful employment in agriculture and in off-farm rural activities. Food forwork programme, efficiently implemented, can greatly assist in achieving this objective. 

The Indian farmer has also suffered from too many controls and restrictions. There are still far too manyinternal barriers to trade that must go. We must also re-examine those aspects of our policies that prevent acreative interaction between farmers and agro- industries. I would like to see the creation of a "SingleMarket" across the country for both manufactured and agricultural produce with encouragement ofagro-industry linkages. With the introduction of value-added taxation this integration of the Indian marketwill be further enabled.

A striking feature of development in our country has been the rapid increase in urbanization. There are nowmore than 30 cities with a population of more than one million. The rapid and unplanned growth of these citieshas contributed to increased urban pollution, crime, the absence of the required infrastructure like access todrinking water, sanitation, roads, footpaths for pedestrians and public spaces, parks and greenery is makinglife in urban India a living hell for many. Most of the responsibility for this rests with States andMunicipal Governments. It will be our effort to give special attention to policies that can encourage urbandevelopment and urban renewal. We will actively seek public-private partnership in building urbaninfrastructure in a planned manner.

Higher rates of economic growth, urbanization and the modernization of agriculture will continue to increasethe demand for energy. This demand can only be met with new investment, increased efficiency and rationalpricing. Even as we plan to make more efficient use of conventional sources of energy, we must invest in thedevelopment of non-conventional sources. We will evolve an Energy Policy package that will cover all sourcesof energy and will address all aspects like energy security, access and availability, affordability andpricing, efficiency and environment.

Water has emerged as a critical and contentious issue across the country. Even access to safe drinking waterremains a problem in many parts of our country. Water management policies have to be so formulated as toaddress the needs of farmers and weaker sections, especially women, as well as those of city-dwellers. We willhave to find innovative, cost-effective and community-based solutions. Groundwater replenishment andmanagement and rainwater harvesting require close cooperation between government, panchayati raj institutionsand non-governmental organizations. The government will reverse the neglect of public investment inirrigation, addressing the specific problems of each river basin, in an environment and people friendlymanner.

We need new thinking in health policy. While the government will continue to help in the growth of private andcommunity based health and medical care, there is a crying need for the reform of public health and publichospitals. We will make public hospitals more efficient and accessible, through public-private partnershipaimed at offering affordable and humane health care. We need community based and public health-orientedsolutions to tackling communicable diseases, epidemics, especially HIV/AIDS, and disability management andpopulation stabilization. 

People are a nation’s greatest resource. Our greatest asset will be an educated and capable work force. Ourgovernment will work along with State governments to step up public spending on education, to universalizeaccess to elementary education and to improve the quality of our education. We shall make effective use ofmid-day meals programme for school children to achieve this objective. I am particularly concerned about theaccess to schooling and higher education of children belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes,weaker sections and minorities.

The education of the girl child and female literacy will be priority areas for us. We will do our utmost toprovide scholarships to help them acquire the training and skills that can make them self-reliant and proudcitizens. Our children need modern and relevant education aimed at making them concerned, capable and caringcitizens of the Republic.

Our economy has been rapidly integrating with the global economy over the past decade, with a growing sense ofself-confidence. However, domestic enterprise needs world class and cost-effective infrastructure. Betterroads, better connectivity, modern airports and railways, efficient ports and affordable and reliable powerare all the basic requirements for a competitive economy. For centuries India has been a trading nation,actively engaged in the movement of goods and people across continents and high seas. We will pursue policiesthat enable our economy to be better integrated with the world economy without hurting the interests of ourpeople. We will create an environment conducive to the utilization of the talent pool of the vast and diverseIndian diaspora. We greatly value their participation in the development of our nation.

No objective in this development agenda can be met if we do not reform the instrument in our hand with whichwe have to work, namely the government and public institutions. Clearly, this will be my main concern andchallenge in the days to come.

We will maintain our tradition of an independent foreign policy, built on a national consensus and based onour supreme national interests. We will expand our network of international relationships – preservingsolidarity with traditional allies and strengthening new partnerships. We will work with like-minded nationsfor an equitable, multi-polar world order, which takes into account the legitimate aspirations of developingcountries. 

We desire to live in a neighbourhood of peace and prosperity. We will actively pursue the composite dialoguewith Pakistan. We are sincere about discussing and resolving all issues, including Jammu & Kashmir. Werecognize that resolution of major issues requires national consensus and accommodation of public sentiment inboth countries. It is self-evident that terrorism and violence would cast a dark shadow over this process.With our other South Asian neighbours, it will be our sincere effort to jointly realize the vast potential forcooperation, and to ensure mutual security, stability and development.

In our relations with China, we are encouraged by positive developments, which we are committed tostrengthening. Bilateral economic cooperation has shown remarkable growth and diversification. We shall carryforward the process of discussion to resolve the boundary question from the political perspective of ourbilateral relations.

As two of the world’s great democracies, our strengthened relationship with the USA is a fact ofconsiderable importance. The transformation of our relations with USA has been supported by the expansion ofeconomic links and people to people ties. We will welcome the expansion of cooperation between the twoGovernments to include new and mutually beneficial areas, particularly high technology.

The strength and vibrancy of our partnership with Russia has withstood the flux of the post-Cold War world. Wewill accelerate the diversification of our relationship, particularly in defence, high technology, space andnuclear energy, while intensifying economic cooperation.

We have traditionally strong relations with the countries of Southeast and West Asia, based on culturalaffinities, economic interaction and a vibrant Indian expatriate community. We aim to build upon these. Whilespeaking of West Asia, I must share our deep concern about developments in Iraq and the suffering of thepeople of that country. It is our earnest hope that democracy would be restored and full sovereigntytransferred to a truly representative Government of Iraq. India is committed to participate in all endeavoursaimed at bringing stability and to ensure the well being of the Iraqi people.

We will also strengthen our bilateral relations with developing countries of Latin America and Africa.Similarly, strong ties with the nations of Central Asia are of importance for our international trade, as wellas for our strategic and energy security.

We will actively pursue a cooperative relationship with the European Union to expand the political andeconomic frontiers of collaboration. We welcome the inclusion of many new member states, with whom we have along tradition of cooperation.

I wish to place on record the nation’s deep sense of gratitude and pride in the valour, professionalism andthe spirit of self-sacrifice of our armed forces. I assure the nation that we will not be found wanting inproviding for our armed forces, or in caring for our ex-servicemen. We will streamline defence acquisitionprocedures, so that our forces obtain the modern weapon systems and technologies. Our government will ensurethat the necessary funds are made available for these purposes.

We will maintain a credible minimum nuclear deterrent, along with a policy of ‘no first use’ in ournuclear doctrine. India is a responsible nuclear power, and we will continue to work to prevent proliferationof weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, we remain committed to the goal of universal nucleardisarmament.

Internal security remains an important challenge. Terrorism poses a grave threat to the unity and progress ofour nation. We shall combat it with all the resources at our command. There shall be no doubt whatsoever aboutour resolve to deal with this insidious threat to our nation.

The government will continue the process of dialogue with the Hurriyat and all other groups in Jammu andKashmir. The Government is willing to talk with all disaffected groups provided they shun the path ofviolence.

We will adopt a comprehensive approach to the problem of national security, to create greater synergy betweenour intelligence agencies, closer coordination between internal security structures, more efficientcivil-military interface and more effective harnessing of technology to national security management.

My fellow citizens, I share the feeling of well-meaning citizens when they express pained concern about thedecline of morals and ethics in public life. There is, however, no better way to deal with this incipientthreat to our democracy than to meet it head on by joining public life ourselves.

When I chose to enter public life, I did so because I was convinced that our democracy needs moreprofessionals to become more engaged and active in politics.

I therefore appeal to each one of you to also participate in our public life so that governments at all levels– central, state and local - are all constantly put on notice and not just tested once in five years.