Focus will be on 9% growth: Manmohan

NEW DELHI: As drought stares the country in the face, Prime Minister Manmohan on Saturday assured all possible assistance to farmers to deal with the crisis arising out of the deficient monsoon, while at the same time allaying any apprehensions regarding shortage of foodgrain or a further spurt in their prices.

In his Independence-Day address delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Mr Singh said his government���s efforts would be focused on nursing the economy back from its current 6.7% growth rate to a robust 9%, be it by increasing capital flows into the country, encouraging exports or increasing public investment and expenditure.

���We expect that there will be an improvement in the situation by the end of this year, but till that time we will all have to bear with the fall out of the global economic slow down,��� he said while enlisting the help of all businessmen and industrialists to ���tackle this difficult situation.���

Conceding that the insufficient rains would ���definitely have some adverse impact on our crops,��� the Prime Minister said the government had already initiated steps to bring relief to farmers by easing the terms for repayment of agricultural loans. Mr Singh also reached out to the common man by assuring him not only of adequate foodstocks but also of ���all efforts��� by his government to control the rising prices of foodgrain, pulses and other items of daily use.

Also stressing upon the need for another Green Revolution, he said the ���we would try our best to make it possible��� as ���our goal is 4% annual growth in agriculture.���

He hoped this target would be achieved in the next five years. In his first speech after returning to power for a second consecutive term, Mr Singh also extended an olive branch to political parties, saying it would be the UPA government���s ���endeavour to carry everyone with us to lead the country ahead on the path of development by creating an environment of consensus and cooperation.���

Also touching upon the concern caused by the outbreak of swine flu in parts of the country, the Prime Minister said the Centre and state governments would together make all necessary efforts to stem the spread of the H1N1 infection. At the same time, he assured the citizens that the swine flu situation was not alarming enough ���to warrant a disruption of our daily lives because of fear and anxiety.���

Dwelling on the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai, the Prime Minister said several steps against terrorism had been taken since by his government. ���To root out terrorist activities, our security forces and intelligence agencies are being constantly upgraded,��� he noted.

Also referring to the menace of Left-wing extremism, Mr Singh said efforts would be redoubled to deal with Naxalites. ���Those who think that they can seize power by recourse to the gun do not understand the strength of our democracy,��� he noted. According to him, the Centre would offer all necessary assistance to the affected states to strengthen their police forces, while also providing its own Central forces to counter the Naxalites.

At the same time, he said the government would try and remove the causes of social and economic dissatisfaction associated with the rise to Naxalism. Interestingly, the Prime Minister made no reference to Pakistan in his 45-minute speech, only speaking of India���s intention to live in peace and harmony with all its neighbours.

Referring to the recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Singh said it had demonstrated that separatist ideology has no place in the state. He said the Centre will ensure that citizens of the state lead a life of peace and dignity with their human rights being respected.

Emphasising that it was government���s solemn duty to take special care of the deprived sections of the society, Mr Singh rejected the contention that it amounted to appeasement. ���Our government would give its full attention to the well being of our brothers and sisters belonging to the minority communities,��� he said adding that the many schemes started under his regime would be taken forward.

Asserting that the government was committed towards providing 33% reservation to women in Parliament, Mr Singh said: ���We are trying to make a law through which women will be given 50% reservation in rural and local bodies so that they get equal representation.��� The Prime Minister also announced the launch of a National Female Literacy Mission, which will aim to reduce female illiteracy by half in the next three years.