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Page 1: UPA Achievements in India

UPA Government

UPA GovernmentReport to the People

2004-2008

UPA GovernmentReport to the People

2004-2008

UPA Government

Page 2: UPA Achievements in India

Report to the PeopleUPA Government

2004 – 2008

Prime MinisterDr. Manmohan Singh

UPA ChairpersonSmt. Sonia Gandhi

Page 3: UPA Achievements in India

Report to the PeopleUPA Government

2004 – 2008

Prime MinisterDr. Manmohan Singh

UPA ChairpersonSmt. Sonia Gandhi

Page 4: UPA Achievements in India

1. Foreword 12. Fulfilling Life’s Promise 42.1 Health2.2 Education2.3 Assuring Child Rights3. Furthering Social Inclusion 123.1 An Inclusive Agenda for the Minorities3.2 Empowering Women3.3 Empowerment and Development of the Weaker Sections3.4 Inclusive Development of Persons with Disability3.5 Freedom Fighters3.6 Caring for Senior Citizens3.7 Welfare of Ex-Servicemen & Serving Defence Service Personnel3.8 Welfare of Workers in the Unorganised Sector4. Rural Renewal 214.1 Bharat Nirman4.2 Rural Employment4.3 Agriculture and Cooperatives5. Green Governance 265.1 Conservation of Wildlife5.2 Afforestation5.3 Climate Change5.4 Water Conservation6. Governance and Civil Society 286.1 Reforms6.2 Panchayati Raj6.3 Urban Renewal6.4 Centre-State Relations7. Enabling Development: The Northeast and J&K 327.1 The Northeast7.2 Jammu and Kashmir8. Economic Resurgence 398.1 Industrial Growth, Investment and Markets8.2 Energy8.3 Infrastructure8.4 Counter-inflationary Measures9. Building Bridges 519.1 External Affairs9.2 Overseas Indians9.3 Managing Borders10. Addressing Disasters 5610.1 Policy Initiatives and Preparedness10.2 Response, Relief, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation10.3 Rehabilitation of Land Oustees and Riot Victims11. Other Initiatives 5911.1 Defence11.2 Internal Security Initiatives11.3 Communal Harmony11.4 Science & Technology11.5 Space Programme11.6 Broadcasting11.7 Tourism11.8 Sports & Youth Affairs11.9 Classical Languages11.10 India Post11.11 Antyodaya Anna Yojana11.12 Bonus to Workers

Contents

Printed at Ajanta Offset & Packagings Ltd, New Delhi

Page 5: UPA Achievements in India

1. Foreword 12. Fulfilling Life’s Promise 42.1 Health2.2 Education2.3 Assuring Child Rights3. Furthering Social Inclusion 123.1 An Inclusive Agenda for the Minorities3.2 Empowering Women3.3 Empowerment and Development of the Weaker Sections3.4 Inclusive Development of Persons with Disability3.5 Freedom Fighters3.6 Caring for Senior Citizens3.7 Welfare of Ex-Servicemen & Serving Defence Service Personnel3.8 Welfare of Workers in the Unorganised Sector4. Rural Renewal 214.1 Bharat Nirman4.2 Rural Employment4.3 Agriculture and Cooperatives5. Green Governance 265.1 Conservation of Wildlife5.2 Afforestation5.3 Climate Change5.4 Water Conservation6. Governance and Civil Society 286.1 Reforms6.2 Panchayati Raj6.3 Urban Renewal6.4 Centre-State Relations7. Enabling Development: The Northeast and J&K 327.1 The Northeast7.2 Jammu and Kashmir8. Economic Resurgence 398.1 Industrial Growth, Investment and Markets8.2 Energy8.3 Infrastructure8.4 Counter-inflationary Measures9. Building Bridges 519.1 External Affairs9.2 Overseas Indians9.3 Managing Borders10. Addressing Disasters 5610.1 Policy Initiatives and Preparedness10.2 Response, Relief, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation10.3 Rehabilitation of Land Oustees and Riot Victims11. Other Initiatives 5911.1 Defence11.2 Internal Security Initiatives11.3 Communal Harmony11.4 Science & Technology11.5 Space Programme11.6 Broadcasting11.7 Tourism11.8 Sports & Youth Affairs11.9 Classical Languages11.10 India Post11.11 Antyodaya Anna Yojana11.12 Bonus to Workers

Contents

Printed at Ajanta Offset & Packagings Ltd, New Delhi

Page 6: UPA Achievements in India

FOREWORD

Prime Minister

The presentation of an Annual Report to the People by the Government of the United Progressive Alliancehas set a new standard for accountability and transparency in governance.

Over the past four years the UPA Government has offered an annual update on the implementation of theNational Common Minimum Programme. These reports, taken together with this year’s, show that theUPA Government has so far been able to implement substantially the commitments made in the NCMP.

Building on the initiatives taken during the first three years, especially the launch of our Flagship Programmes,namely, Bharat Nirman, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, National Rural Health Mission,Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, modified Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan with expanded Mid-Day Meal Programme, the Government has put in place an “architecture for inclusive growth” during itsfour years in office. The 11th Five Year Plan, launched during the year, is based on this architecture.

The central vision of the 11th Five Year Plan is to trigger a development process that ensures broad-basedimprovement in the quality of life of our people, especially the poor, the Scheduled Castes, the ScheduledTribes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities. The Plan also seeks to ensure more regionally balanceddevelopment.

In meeting these objectives our Government has given high priority to revitalization of agriculture, theempowerment of our farmers and the modernization of the rural economy. Several initiatives, listed in thisReport, have been taken to reverse the neglect of agriculture in the period 1996-2004. We have improvedthe terms of trade for agriculture, in particular by increasing the minimum support price for foodgrains,increased investment in irrigation, agricultural research and rural infrastructure and have launched theRashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, with an allocation of Rs. 25,000 crores for the 11th Five Year Plan. Theseinitiatives along with the National Food Security Mission and the National Policy for Farmers will facilitatea turnaround of the agricultural economy. I am confident that this will also enable us to return to a regimeof moderate inflation.

Our Government has made determined efforts to accelerate the pace of development while maintainingreasonable price stability. Control of inflation has been a priority concern. The Government ensured thatthe rate of inflation was brought down from around 6% in 2003-2004 to a little over 3% in the years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. An upward pressure on prices since 2007 has been wholly on account of the steepincrease in global commodity prices, especially oil prices. The sharp escalation in oil prices and in theprice of metals, especially steel, and foodgrains has impacted our domestic economy. The Government hastaken several measures to deal with this challenge. Controls have been imposed on commodity exports,tariffs have been reduced to encourage cheaper imports, fiscal and monetary policy initiatives have beentaken by the authorities and, wherever needed, administrative measures are being taken to discouragespeculation and hoarding.

1

Page 7: UPA Achievements in India

FOREWORD

Prime Minister

The presentation of an Annual Report to the People by the Government of the United Progressive Alliancehas set a new standard for accountability and transparency in governance.

Over the past four years the UPA Government has offered an annual update on the implementation of theNational Common Minimum Programme. These reports, taken together with this year’s, show that theUPA Government has so far been able to implement substantially the commitments made in the NCMP.

Building on the initiatives taken during the first three years, especially the launch of our Flagship Programmes,namely, Bharat Nirman, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, National Rural Health Mission,Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, modified Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan with expanded Mid-Day Meal Programme, the Government has put in place an “architecture for inclusive growth” during itsfour years in office. The 11th Five Year Plan, launched during the year, is based on this architecture.

The central vision of the 11th Five Year Plan is to trigger a development process that ensures broad-basedimprovement in the quality of life of our people, especially the poor, the Scheduled Castes, the ScheduledTribes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities. The Plan also seeks to ensure more regionally balanceddevelopment.

In meeting these objectives our Government has given high priority to revitalization of agriculture, theempowerment of our farmers and the modernization of the rural economy. Several initiatives, listed in thisReport, have been taken to reverse the neglect of agriculture in the period 1996-2004. We have improvedthe terms of trade for agriculture, in particular by increasing the minimum support price for foodgrains,increased investment in irrigation, agricultural research and rural infrastructure and have launched theRashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, with an allocation of Rs. 25,000 crores for the 11th Five Year Plan. Theseinitiatives along with the National Food Security Mission and the National Policy for Farmers will facilitatea turnaround of the agricultural economy. I am confident that this will also enable us to return to a regimeof moderate inflation.

Our Government has made determined efforts to accelerate the pace of development while maintainingreasonable price stability. Control of inflation has been a priority concern. The Government ensured thatthe rate of inflation was brought down from around 6% in 2003-2004 to a little over 3% in the years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. An upward pressure on prices since 2007 has been wholly on account of the steepincrease in global commodity prices, especially oil prices. The sharp escalation in oil prices and in theprice of metals, especially steel, and foodgrains has impacted our domestic economy. The Government hastaken several measures to deal with this challenge. Controls have been imposed on commodity exports,tariffs have been reduced to encourage cheaper imports, fiscal and monetary policy initiatives have beentaken by the authorities and, wherever needed, administrative measures are being taken to discouragespeculation and hoarding.

1

Page 8: UPA Achievements in India

‘Now there’s adoctor tolook after us.And medicinestoo!See how ourconfidence hasgrown.’

22

While supply side and demand side measures will have their salutary impact on the price level, a normalmonsoon and public recognition of the Government’s determination to reverse the recent spurt in inflationwill also help alter the state of expectations. The Indian economy is on a high growth path and I amconfident that we will be able to increase production and satisfy the growing demands of our people andat the same time keep a check on prices.

The focus of the 11th Five Year Plan is education. India is a nation of young people. I sincerely hope theinitiatives we have taken in the field of education will unleash the creative potential of all our people. Wehave increased investment in education with the twin objectives of widening access to education andpromoting excellence. Special emphasis is being laid on the empowerment through education of scheduledcastes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and minority communities and women. Our Governmenthas also taken important initiatives in the fields of health care, urban development and the modernizationof infrastructure. All these have been stated in detail in this Report.

I am also happy to note that during this year we have extended the National Rural Employment GuaranteeProgramme to all rural districts across the country. This programme will make a major contribution tosoftening the harsh edges of extreme poverty in rural India. I urge State Governments to ensure proper andtransparent implementation of the NREGA.

The UPA Government has worked hard to make our growth process socially inclusive and regionallybalanced. The North Eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir and other backward regions have received specialattention. At the same time, it has also worked to make the Indian economy more globally competitive.The external profile of our economy has become more robust and has contributed to an improvement inIndia’s global standing. It has also enabled us to reach out to our neighbours and increase economiccooperation with the countries of South Asia, South East Asia, Indian Ocean Region and Africa.

Our foreign policy has been guided by our desire to create an external environment conducive to peace andstability in our region, ensure India’s accelerated economic development and safeguard our national securityand our energy security. We have given the highest priority to strengthening close political, economic,social and cultural relations with our immediate and extended neighbourhood, all major powers as well asour partners in the developing world and Non-Aligned Movement.

India today enjoys an enhanced profile in the international arena as a model of stable, liberal, plural andsecular democracy and a rapidly growing economy with the ability and capability to play a larger internationalrole.

I reiterate the commitment of the UPA Government to the principles and the goals of the National CommonMinimum Programme. I sincerely hope this Annual Report to the People will be read by one and all toappreciate the work being done by our Government.

May 22, 2008. Manmohan Singh

Page 9: UPA Achievements in India

‘Now there’s adoctor tolook after us.And medicinestoo!See how ourconfidence hasgrown’

22

While supply side and demand side measures will have their salutary impact on the price level, a normalmonsoon and public recognition of the Government’s determination to reverse the recent spurt in inflationwill also help alter the state of expectations. The Indian economy is on a high growth path and I amconfident that we will be able to increase production and satisfy the growing demands of our people andat the same time keep a check on prices.

The focus of the 11th Five Year Plan is education. India is a nation of young people. I sincerely hope theinitiatives we have taken in the field of education will unleash the creative potential of all our people. Wehave increased investment in education with the twin objectives of widening access to education andpromoting excellence. Special emphasis is being laid on the empowerment through education of scheduledcastes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and minority communities and women. Our Governmenthas also taken important initiatives in the fields of health care, urban development and the modernizationof infrastructure. All these have been stated in detail in this Report.

I am also happy to note that during this year we have extended the National Rural Employment GuaranteeProgramme to all rural districts across the country. This programme will make a major contribution tosoftening the harsh edges of extreme poverty in rural India. I urge State Governments to ensure proper andtransparent implementation of the NREGA.

The UPA Government has worked hard to make our growth process socially inclusive and regionallybalanced. The North Eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir and other backward regions have received specialattention. At the same time, it has also worked to make the Indian economy more globally competitive.The external profile of our economy has become more robust and has contributed to an improvement inIndia’s global standing. It has also enabled us to reach out to our neighbours and increase economiccooperation with the countries of South Asia, South East Asia, Indian Ocean Region and Africa.

Our foreign policy has been guided by our desire to create an external environment conducive to peace andstability in our region, ensure India’s accelerated economic development and safeguard our national securityand our energy security. We have given the highest priority to strengthening close political, economic,social and cultural relations with our immediate and extended neighbourhood, all major powers as well asour partners in the developing world and Non-Aligned Movement.

India today enjoys an enhanced profile in the international arena as a model of stable, liberal, plural andsecular democracy and a rapidly growing economy with the ability and capability to play a larger internationalrole.

I reiterate the commitment of the UPA Government to the principles and the goals of the National CommonMinimum Programme. I sincerely hope this Annual Report to the People will be read by one and all toappreciate the work being done by our Government.

May 22, 2008. Manmohan Singh

Page 10: UPA Achievements in India

Fulfilling Life’s Promise

2.1 HEALTH

The UPA Government has set in motion a series ofinitiatives to effectively improve access to qualityhealthcare of people, especially those residing inrural areas, the poor, women and children. Thesehave already made a significant and visible difference.

2.1.1 Expansion in outlays

The plan outlay for health has increased from Rs. 6,983crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 16,534 crore in 2008-09.

2.1.2 National Rural Health Mission

• Through the National Rural Health Mission theUPA Government has achieved significant gains inoutpatient care, institutional deliveries andimmunisation in rural India.

• By early April 2008, over 1.4 lakh sub centres,22,000 primary health centres, 3,900 communityhealth centres and 500 district hospitals have beenprovided untied funds to meet local requirements.

• By early April 2008, over 4.8 lakh ASHAs(Accredited Social Health Activists) have beenpositioned in villages for taking care of the healthneeds of their own communities and to help achievehealth security at the village level.

• By early April 2008, over 350 district hospitalshave been taken up for upgrade so that quality

healthcare is available within the district.

• By early April 2008, over 2,900 communityhealth centres have been taken up for upgrade toIndian Public Health Service standards.

• By early April 2008, over 1,800 hospitals andhealth centres now function as first referral units sothat pregnant women can get emergency care in caseof complication in delivery.

• By early April 2008, over 8,700 primary healthcentres now give services round-the-clock.

• By early April 2008, over 2,400 specialists, 6,900doctors, 14,000 staff nurses, 26,000 ANMs and 4,300other paramedics have been recruited so that hospitalsand health centres can provide the health servicespeople need.

• By early April 2008, over 19,000 health sub-centres have been provided with an additional ANMto better meet the requirements for care of pregnantwomen and other healthcare needs.

• About 200 districts have been equipped withmobile medical units to take healthcare to people’sdoorsteps.

• By early April 2008, over 18,000 Rogi KalyanSamitis have been set up to involve the communityin the management of hospitals and health centres.

• By early April 2008, over 2.1 lakh Village Healthand Sanitation Committees are now active forensuring community action at the village level onhealth and sanitation.

• By early April 2008, over 83 lakh women frompoor families have been brought for safe delivery inhospitals and health centres under Janani SurakshaYojana, facilitating safe motherhood.

• Leprosy cases have been reduced to a level ofonly one person per 14,000 population. With this,India has achieved elimination of leprosy as perinternational norms.

• Neonatal tetanus has been eliminated in sevenStates and reported elimination in five more States

is being confirmed.

• Major expansion of programme and success incoverage and treatment has been achieved intuberculosis control with the entire country gettingcovered under Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) since 2006, and achievement of theglobal and national target of case detection rate ofover 70% coupled with treatment success rate ofover 85% for the first time in 2007.

• As a result of efforts made under the NationalVector Borne Disease Control Programme, malaria,chikungunya and dengue remained in check and thenumber of cases declined. A major drive has beeninitiated against kala azar in endemic areas and alarge vaccination drive taken up against Japaneseencephalitis.

• Massive drive to eradicate polio has beencontinued under a revised strategy.

2.1.3 AIDS control and care

• The UPA Government has given the NationalAIDS Control Programme leadership at the level ofthe Prime Minister.

• The epidemic has stabilized, showing marginaldeclining trend during the last four years.

• Prevention, counselling, testing and treatmentservices under the National AIDS ControlProgramme have been massively expanded. Thenumber of persons counselled and tested hasincreased six-fold over the last four years to over 60lakh, with similar expansion in prevention andtreatment services as well.

2.1.4 Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana

• The UPA Government has approved the PradhanMantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana for establishingsix new medical institutions with 850-bed hospitalsand upgrading 13 existing medical institutions onlines of AIIMS to provide quality healthcare andmedical education in poorly served States.

• Construction work has already started in sevenexisting medical institutions and construction of the

six new medical institutions will begin this year atBhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur andRishikesh.

2.1.5 Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana for theunorganised sector poor

• The UPA Government’s Rashtriya SwasthyaBima Yojana will provide family health cover ofRs. 30,000 to every unorganised sector worker livingbelow the poverty line, beginning with the launchon 1st April, 2008 in the States of Haryana, Rajasthanand Delhi.

2.1.6 Universalising rural sanitation

• The UPA Government has doubled sanitationcoverage of rural households, covering more thanhalf the rural households through enhanced people’sparticipation under the Total Sanitation Campaignand is accelerating implementation to achieveuniversal access to toilets by the year 2012.

2.1.7 Trauma centres for road accidents

• The UPA Government has approved upgrade oftrauma centres on the national highways along theGolden Quadrilateral and the East-West Corridor toensure treatment of road accident victims.

2.1.8 Affordable essential drugs

• The UPA Government is implementing largerevival packages for Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. andBengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. to helpensure affordable availability of essential drugsthrough these public sector undertakings.

4 5

Page 11: UPA Achievements in India

Fulfilling Life’s Promise

2.1 HEALTH

The UPA Government has set in motion a series ofinitiatives to effectively improve access to qualityhealthcare of people, especially those residing inrural areas, the poor, women and children. Thesehave already made a significant and visible difference.

2.1.1 Expansion in outlays

The plan outlay for health has increased from Rs. 6,983crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 16,534 crore in 2008-09.

2.1.2 National Rural Health Mission

• Through the National Rural Health Mission theUPA Government has achieved significant gains inoutpatient care, institutional deliveries andimmunisation in rural India.

• By early April 2008, over 1.4 lakh sub centres,22,000 primary health centres, 3,900 communityhealth centres and 500 district hospitals have beenprovided untied funds to meet local requirements.

• By early April 2008, over 4.8 lakh ASHAs(Accredited Social Health Activists) have beenpositioned in villages for taking care of the healthneeds of their own communities and to help achievehealth security at the village level.

• By early April 2008, over 350 district hospitalshave been taken up for upgrade so that quality

healthcare is available within the district.

• By early April 2008, over 2,900 communityhealth centres have been taken up for upgrade toIndian Public Health Service standards.

• By early April 2008, over 1,800 hospitals andhealth centres now function as first referral units sothat pregnant women can get emergency care in caseof complication in delivery.

• By early April 2008, over 8,700 primary healthcentres now give services round-the-clock.

• By early April 2008, over 2,400 specialists, 6,900doctors, 14,000 staff nurses, 26,000 ANMs and 4,300other paramedics have been recruited so that hospitalsand health centres can provide the health servicespeople need.

• By early April 2008, over 19,000 health sub-centres have been provided with an additional ANMto better meet the requirements for care of pregnantwomen and other healthcare needs.

• About 200 districts have been equipped withmobile medical units to take healthcare to people’sdoorsteps.

• By early April 2008, over 18,000 Rogi KalyanSamitis have been set up to involve the communityin the management of hospitals and health centres.

• By early April 2008, over 2.1 lakh Village Healthand Sanitation Committees are now active forensuring community action at the village level onhealth and sanitation.

• By early April 2008, over 83 lakh women frompoor families have been brought for safe delivery inhospitals and health centres under Janani SurakshaYojana, facilitating safe motherhood.

• Leprosy cases have been reduced to a level ofonly one person per 14,000 population. With this,India has achieved elimination of leprosy as perinternational norms.

• Neonatal tetanus has been eliminated in sevenStates and reported elimination in five more States

is being confirmed.

• Major expansion of programme and success incoverage and treatment has been achieved intuberculosis control with the entire country gettingcovered under Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) since 2006, and achievement of theglobal and national target of case detection rate ofover 70% coupled with treatment success rate ofover 85% for the first time in 2007.

• As a result of efforts made under the NationalVector Borne Disease Control Programme, malaria,chikungunya and dengue remained in check and thenumber of cases declined. A major drive has beeninitiated against kala azar in endemic areas and alarge vaccination drive taken up against Japaneseencephalitis.

• Massive drive to eradicate polio has beencontinued under a revised strategy.

2.1.3 AIDS control and care

• The UPA Government has given the NationalAIDS Control Programme leadership at the level ofthe Prime Minister.

• The epidemic has stabilized, showing marginaldeclining trend during the last four years.

• Prevention, counselling, testing and treatmentservices under the National AIDS ControlProgramme have been massively expanded. Thenumber of persons counselled and tested hasincreased six-fold over the last four years to over 60lakh, with similar expansion in prevention andtreatment services as well.

2.1.4 Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana

• The UPA Government has approved the PradhanMantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana for establishingsix new medical institutions with 850-bed hospitalsand upgrading 13 existing medical institutions onlines of AIIMS to provide quality healthcare andmedical education in poorly served States.

• Construction work has already started in sevenexisting medical institutions and construction of the

six new medical institutions will begin this year atBhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur andRishikesh.

2.1.5 Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana for theunorganised sector poor

• The UPA Government’s Rashtriya SwasthyaBima Yojana will provide family health cover ofRs. 30,000 to every unorganised sector worker livingbelow the poverty line, beginning with the launchon 1st April, 2008 in the States of Haryana, Rajasthanand Delhi.

2.1.6 Universalising rural sanitation

• The UPA Government has doubled sanitationcoverage of rural households, covering more thanhalf the rural households through enhanced people’sparticipation under the Total Sanitation Campaignand is accelerating implementation to achieveuniversal access to toilets by the year 2012.

2.1.7 Trauma centres for road accidents

• The UPA Government has approved upgrade oftrauma centres on the national highways along theGolden Quadrilateral and the East-West Corridor toensure treatment of road accident victims.

2.1.8 Affordable essential drugs

• The UPA Government is implementing largerevival packages for Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. andBengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. to helpensure affordable availability of essential drugsthrough these public sector undertakings.

4 5

Page 12: UPA Achievements in India

2.1.9 Universalising and strengthening ICDS

• The UPA Government has sanctioned 3.2 lakhanganwadis and mini anganwadis, and is committedto ensure an anganwadi in every habitation in the11th Plan.

• Financial provision per beneficiary forsupplementary nutrition has been doubled to ensurerequired level of nutrition.

• All pregnant women and children up to six yearsof age are now provided nutrition, covering evenfamilies that are not living below the poverty line.

• With expansion in the number of anganwadis,eligibility and quantum of nutrition, the number ofsupplementary nutrition beneficiaries has nearlydoubled over the last four years to almost eight crore.

• The remuneration paid to anganwadi workers

and helpers has been increased to 1 times Rs. 1,500and Rs, 750 per month respectively to reward thesewomen who have worked hard to secure the futureof our country.

2.1.10 Thrust to Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddhaand Homoeopathy

• The UPA Government has given unprecedentedthrust to these medicine systems, raising allocationby more than five times in the 11th Plan to Rs. 4,000crore, locating their services in more than 5,000health centres and hospitals, and appointing around4,000 practitioners.

• Setting up of an All India Institute of Ayurvedaat Delhi has been approved.

• North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine atPasighat in Arunachal Pradesh has been approvedto focus on folk health traditions.

The National Rural Health Mission-Healthcare Within Reach

Shanti, a daily-wage worker in a fruit- processing unit has just come back from the Sub Centrenear her home, located in a small hamlet near Thanedar in Himachal Pradesh.

Her son, suffering from an infected respiratory tract, has been examined by the ANM and giventhe necessary medication, while Shanti has been given instructions for continued care at home, withsimple home-based remedies.

Since the visit to the Centre, and the walk back home, was over in less than an hour, Shanti couldgo to the processing unit for half a day’s work, leaving the child to be looked after by his grandmother.

As she once again passed the Sub Centre on her way to work, Shanti could see its courtyard crowdedwith parents who had brought their children for the Polio vaccine. A notice on the board informedeveryone that the doctor from the PHC would be visiting the village on the next day, for follow upsas well as new cases.

Thanks to the NRHM, life in her little village has undergone a radical change for the better.

‘Well-read. Always ahead.’

6

Page 13: UPA Achievements in India

2.1.9 Universalising and strengthening ICDS

• The UPA Government has sanctioned 3.2 lakhanganwadis and mini anganwadis, and is committedto ensure an anganwadi in every habitation in the11th Plan.

• Financial provision per beneficiary forsupplementary nutrition has been doubled to ensurerequired level of nutrition.

• All pregnant women and children up to six yearsof age are now provided nutrition, covering evenfamilies that are not living below the poverty line.

• With expansion in the number of anganwadis,eligibility and quantum of nutrition, the number ofsupplementary nutrition beneficiaries has nearlydoubled over the last four years to almost eight crore.

• The remuneration paid to anganwadi workers

and helpers has been increased to 1 times Rs. 1,500and Rs, 750 per month respectively to reward thesewomen who have worked hard to secure the futureof our country.

2.1.10 Thrust to Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddhaand Homoeopathy

• The UPA Government has given unprecedentedthrust to these medicine systems, raising allocationby more than five times in the 11th Plan to Rs. 4,000crore, locating their services in more than 5,000health centres and hospitals, and appointing around4,000 practitioners.

• Setting up of an All India Institute of Ayurvedaat Delhi has been approved.

• North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine atPasighat in Arunachal Pradesh has been approvedto focus on folk health traditions.

The National Rural Health Mission-Healthcare Within Reach

Shanti, a daily-wage worker in a fruit- processing unit has just come back from the Sub Centrenear her home, located in a small hamlet near Thanedar in Himachal Pradesh.

Her son, suffering from an infected respiratory tract, has been examined by the ANM and giventhe necessary medication, while Shanti has been given instructions for continued care at home, withsimple home-based remedies.

Since the visit to the Centre, and the walk back home, was over in less than an hour, Shanti couldgo to the processing unit for half a day’s work, leaving the child to be looked after by his grandmother.

As she once again passed the Sub Centre on her way to work, Shanti could see its courtyard crowdedwith parents who had brought their children for the Polio vaccine. A notice on the board informedeveryone that the doctor from the PHC would be visiting the village on the next day, for follow upsas well as new cases.

Thanks to the NRHM, life in her little village has undergone a radical change for the better.

‘Well-read. Always ahead’

6

Page 14: UPA Achievements in India

A comprehensive strategy has been pursued formeeting the elementary, secondary, higher andvocational education needs of all sections of society,qualitatively and quantitatively, and this has alreadyyielded impressive gains in securing educationfor all.

2.2.1 Expansion in outlays

• The UPA Government has accorded highestpriority to education, with the plan outlay foreducation increasing from Rs. 7,024 crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 34,400 crore in 2008-09 and five-year planallocation increasing by more than five times to Rs.2,75,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

• An education cess has been introduced and itsproceeds credited to Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh tofinance elementary, secondary and higher education.

2.2.2 School education for all

• With sustained effort under Sarva ShikshaAbhiyan, the number of out-of-school children hasbeen reduced from 320 lakh to 76 lakh.

• Through setting up of 1,754 residential KasturbaGandhi Balika Vidyalayas, 1,82,000 girls have been

enrolled in elementary education, helping bridge thegender gap in education.

• More than 96% of the habitations have beenprovided primary schools within one kilometre and85% have been provided upper primary schools.

• The National Cooked Mid-Day Meal Programmehas been launched as the world’s largest schoolfeeding programme for around 11 crore childrenin government-run and government aided primaryschools across the country as well as upper primarychildren in over 3,400 educationally backward blocks.The scheme will be extended to upper primary classesthroughout the country this year, raising coverageto around 14 crore children.

• The UPA Government has announced theintroduction of Rashtriya Madhyamik ShikshaAbhiyan to increase enrolment in secondary schoolsby improving access to secondary schools andupgrading school infrastructure through an investmentof Rs. 35,000 crore during the 11th Plan.

• 6,000 high quality model schools will be startedthis year across the country to set standards ofexcellence for other schools.

• The UPA Government has announcedintroduction of a National Means-cum-MeritScholarship Scheme for one lakh secondary schoolstudents each year, each of whom will be given Rs.6,000 annually.

• Over the last four years, 1.58 lakh rural schoolshave been provided safe drinking water. The UPAGovernment has announced provision for safedrinking water units in every school in water-deficienthabitations over the next four years.

2.2.3 Enlarging access to higher education

• The UPA Government has set up an IIM atShillong, three IISERs at Mohali, Pune and Kolkataand an Indian Institute of Information Technologyfor Design and Management at Kanchipuram.

• Conversion of the state universities in Manipur,Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura into centraluniversities and setting up of a central university inSikkim have accelerated development of the existinguniversities and ensured a central university in eachNorth-eastern State.

• Allahabad University, Central Institute of Englishand Foreign Languages at Hyderabad and NationalInstitute of Educational Planning and Administrationhave also been converted into central universitiesand legislation for setting up the Indira GandhiNational Tribal University at Amarkantak has beenenacted.

• Massive investment will be made in highereducation in the 11th Plan, with 30 new centraluniversities, 370 new colleges, eight new IITs, 20new Indian Institutes of Information Technology,seven new IIMs, and two more Indian Institutes ofScience Education and Research. Of these, 16 centraluniversities, three IITs in Andhra Pradesh, Biharand Rajasthan, two IISERs at Bhopal andThiruvananthapuram, and two Schools of Planningand Architecture at Bhopal and Vijayawada will beset up this year.

• An integrated National Knowledge Network toprovide gigabit broadband connectivity will be setup to connect all institutions of higher learning andresearch in the country to facilitate sharing ofresources and research collaboration.

• To enable them to continue to grow as centresof excellence, provision of Rs. 100 crore specialgrant has been approved over the last four years forvarious purposes to each of Madras, Bombay andCalcutta Universities, Indian Institute of Sciencesat Bangalore, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth atRahuri in Maharashtra, University of Mysore andDelhi University.

• The age of superannuation for teaching positionsin centrally funded institutions of higher and technicaleducation has been enhanced from 62 years to 65years to ensure teacher availability.

• In order to help the National Institutes ofTechnology become centres of excellence, boostpost-graduate education and research, and provideautonomy, the UPA Government initiated legislationenacted as the National Institute of Technology Act.

• Strengthening of 200 State engineeringinstitutions is envisaged in the 11th Plan.

• A number of measures have been taken to secureautonomy for institutions of higher learning andprofessional education, setting at rest manyapprehensions on this account.

• The UPA Government’s instructions to banksto give student loans up to Rs. 7.5 lakh withoutcollateral, coupled with focused monitoring, hasensured that the volume of student loans has grownmanifold.

• Merit scholarship schemes have been introducedfor medical and engineering students.

• The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Schemehas been launched to help candidates from amongthe scheduled castes and scheduled tribes preparefor selection to academic positions and for doctoralstudies.

• All IIM students having annual family incomeof up to two lakh rupees have been made eligiblefor tuition fee waiver.

• Prime Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme hasbeen introduced for scholarships to wards of armedforces personnel.

2.2 EDUCATION

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A comprehensive strategy has been pursued formeeting the elementary, secondary, higher andvocational education needs of all sections of society,qualitatively and quantitatively, and this has alreadyyielded impressive gains in securing educationfor all.

2.2.1 Expansion in outlays

• The UPA Government has accorded highestpriority to education, with the plan outlay foreducation increasing from Rs. 7,024 crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 34,400 crore in 2008-09 and five-year planallocation increasing by more than five times to Rs.2,75,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

• An education cess has been introduced and itsproceeds credited to Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh tofinance elementary, secondary and higher education.

2.2.2 School education for all

• With sustained effort under Sarva ShikshaAbhiyan, the number of out-of-school children hasbeen reduced from 320 lakh to 76 lakh.

• Through setting up of 1,754 residential KasturbaGandhi Balika Vidyalayas, 1,82,000 girls have been

enrolled in elementary education, helping bridge thegender gap in education.

• More than 96% of the habitations have beenprovided primary schools within one kilometre and85% have been provided upper primary schools.

• The National Cooked Mid-Day Meal Programmehas been launched as the world’s largest schoolfeeding programme for around 11 crore childrenin government-run and government aided primaryschools across the country as well as upper primarychildren in over 3,400 educationally backward blocks.The scheme will be extended to upper primary classesthroughout the country this year, raising coverageto around 14 crore children.

• The UPA Government has announced theintroduction of Rashtriya Madhyamik ShikshaAbhiyan to increase enrolment in secondary schoolsby improving access to secondary schools andupgrading school infrastructure through an investmentof Rs. 35,000 crore during the 11th Plan.

• 6,000 high quality model schools will be startedthis year across the country to set standards ofexcellence for other schools.

• The UPA Government has announcedintroduction of a National Means-cum-MeritScholarship Scheme for one lakh secondary schoolstudents each year, each of whom will be given Rs.6,000 annually.

• Over the last four years, 1.58 lakh rural schoolshave been provided safe drinking water. The UPAGovernment has announced provision for safedrinking water units in every school in water-deficienthabitations over the next four years.

2.2.3 Enlarging access to higher education

• The UPA Government has set up an IIM atShillong, three IISERs at Mohali, Pune and Kolkataand an Indian Institute of Information Technologyfor Design and Management at Kanchipuram.

• Conversion of the state universities in Manipur,Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura into centraluniversities and setting up of a central university inSikkim have accelerated development of the existinguniversities and ensured a central university in eachNorth-eastern State.

• Allahabad University, Central Institute of Englishand Foreign Languages at Hyderabad and NationalInstitute of Educational Planning and Administrationhave also been converted into central universitiesand legislation for setting up the Indira GandhiNational Tribal University at Amarkantak has beenenacted.

• Massive investment will be made in highereducation in the 11th Plan, with 30 new centraluniversities, 370 new colleges, eight new IITs, 20new Indian Institutes of Information Technology,seven new IIMs, and two more Indian Institutes ofScience Education and Research. Of these, 16 centraluniversities, three IITs in Andhra Pradesh, Biharand Rajasthan, two IISERs at Bhopal andThiruvananthapuram, and two Schools of Planningand Architecture at Bhopal and Vijayawada will beset up this year.

• An integrated National Knowledge Network toprovide gigabit broadband connectivity will be setup to connect all institutions of higher learning andresearch in the country to facilitate sharing ofresources and research collaboration.

• To enable them to continue to grow as centresof excellence, provision of Rs. 100 crore specialgrant has been approved over the last four years forvarious purposes to each of Madras, Bombay andCalcutta Universities, Indian Institute of Sciencesat Bangalore, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth atRahuri in Maharashtra, University of Mysore andDelhi University.

• The age of superannuation for teaching positionsin centrally funded institutions of higher and technicaleducation has been enhanced from 62 years to 65years to ensure teacher availability.

• In order to help the National Institutes ofTechnology become centres of excellence, boostpost-graduate education and research, and provideautonomy, the UPA Government initiated legislationenacted as the National Institute of Technology Act.

• Strengthening of 200 State engineeringinstitutions is envisaged in the 11th Plan.

• A number of measures have been taken to secureautonomy for institutions of higher learning andprofessional education, setting at rest manyapprehensions on this account.

• The UPA Government’s instructions to banksto give student loans up to Rs. 7.5 lakh withoutcollateral, coupled with focused monitoring, hasensured that the volume of student loans has grownmanifold.

• Merit scholarship schemes have been introducedfor medical and engineering students.

• The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Schemehas been launched to help candidates from amongthe scheduled castes and scheduled tribes preparefor selection to academic positions and for doctoralstudies.

• All IIM students having annual family incomeof up to two lakh rupees have been made eligiblefor tuition fee waiver.

• Prime Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme hasbeen introduced for scholarships to wards of armedforces personnel.

2.2 EDUCATION

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• The UPA Government initiated the amendmenteffected to the Constitution to facilitate greater accessto education for students belonging to the scheduledcastes, scheduled tribes and socially and educationallybackward classes, enabling laws to be made forreservation in admissions of students belonging tothese categories to public as well as privateinstitutions. In order to ensure that students belongingto the other backward classes get equitable accessto higher education in educational institutionsmaintained or aided by the Central Government, theUPA Government initiated legislation enacted asthe Central Educational Institutions (Reservation inAdmission) Act, 2006, which is being given effectto in a phased manner beginning with the academicyear 2008-09.

2.2.4 National Skill Development Mission

• The UPA Government has formulated theNational Skill Development Mission to ensureemployability of youth and address skill deficit feltin some sectors of the economy, with an outlay ofRs. 31,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

2.3 ASSURING CHILD RIGHTS

The UPA Government has given greater focus toissues relating to children through establishment ofan independent Ministry of Women and ChildDevelopment, enactment of a number of child-friendly laws, and launch of major programmes,with over Rs. 33,000 crore earmarked in the budgetfor schemes related to children.

2.3.1 Child-friendly laws

• The National Commission for Protection of Child

Rights has been set up under the legislation initiatedby the UPA Government for the Commission forProtection of Child Rights Act, 2006. The law hasalso mandated setting up of State Commissions andchildren’s courts for trial of offences against childrenas well as violations of children’s rights.

• The UPA Government initiated legislationamending the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protectionof Children) Act, 2000, making it more child-friendlythrough prohibition on confinement of juveniles inpolice lock-up or jail, setting up of Juvenile JusticeBoards and Child Welfare Committees in eachdistrict, barring association of police in the inquiryprocess, constitution of child protection units in alldistricts, empowering courts to give adoption orders,etc.

• The UPA Government has prohibitedemployment of children as domestic servants orservant or in roadside eateries, restaurants, hotels,motels, teashops, resorts, spas or other recreationalcentres in order to ameliorate their condition.

• The UPA Government initiated legislationenacted as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,2006, which has made child marriage a cognisableoffence, provided for appointment of child marriageprevention officers, and provided for nullificationof a child marriage at the marrying child’s option,with maintenance payable by the husband or guardiantill remarriage.

2.3.2 Securing the health and education of children

• The UPA Government has taken major initiativestowards securing the health and education of childrenthrough provision of anganwadi, ASHA, safedrinking water and schools at the habitation levelunder the ICDS, National Rural Health Mission,Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and National Cooked Mid-Day Meal Programme.

• Kishori Shakti Yojana has been expandedthroughout the country to improve the nutritionaland health status of adolescent girls and to educateand empower them.

• The Rajiv Gandhi National CrПche Scheme forthe Children of Working Mothers has been launched,under which seven lakh children are being coveredthrough 28,000 crПches.

‘Hum Hindustani…'

10

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• The UPA Government initiated the amendmenteffected to the Constitution to facilitate greater accessto education for students belonging to the scheduledcastes, scheduled tribes and socially and educationallybackward classes, enabling laws to be made forreservation in admissions of students belonging tothese categories to public as well as privateinstitutions. In order to ensure that students belongingto the other backward classes get equitable accessto higher education in educational institutionsmaintained or aided by the Central Government, theUPA Government initiated legislation enacted asthe Central Educational Institutions (Reservation inAdmission) Act, 2006, which is being given effectto in a phased manner beginning with the academicyear 2008-09.

2.2.4 National Skill Development Mission

• The UPA Government has formulated theNational Skill Development Mission to ensureemployability of youth and address skill deficit feltin some sectors of the economy, with an outlay ofRs. 31,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

2.3 ASSURING CHILD RIGHTS

The UPA Government has given greater focus toissues relating to children through establishment ofan independent Ministry of Women and ChildDevelopment, enactment of a number of child-friendly laws, and launch of major programmes,with over Rs. 33,000 crore earmarked in the budgetfor schemes related to children.

2.3.1 Child-friendly laws

• The National Commission for Protection of Child

Rights has been set up under the legislation initiatedby the UPA Government for the Commission forProtection of Child Rights Act, 2006. The law hasalso mandated setting up of State Commissions andchildren’s courts for trial of offences against childrenas well as violations of children’s rights.

• The UPA Government initiated legislationamending the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protectionof Children) Act, 2000, making it more child-friendlythrough prohibition on confinement of juveniles inpolice lock-up or jail, setting up of Juvenile JusticeBoards and Child Welfare Committees in eachdistrict, barring association of police in the inquiryprocess, constitution of child protection units in alldistricts, empowering courts to give adoption orders,etc.

• The UPA Government has prohibitedemployment of children as domestic servants orservant or in roadside eateries, restaurants, hotels,motels, teashops, resorts, spas or other recreationalcentres in order to ameliorate their condition.

• The UPA Government initiated legislationenacted as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,2006, which has made child marriage a cognisableoffence, provided for appointment of child marriageprevention officers, and provided for nullificationof a child marriage at the marrying child’s option,with maintenance payable by the husband or guardiantill remarriage.

2.3.2 Securing the health and education of children

• The UPA Government has taken major initiativestowards securing the health and education of childrenthrough provision of anganwadi, ASHA, safedrinking water and schools at the habitation levelunder the ICDS, National Rural Health Mission,Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and National Cooked Mid-Day Meal Programme.

• Kishori Shakti Yojana has been expandedthroughout the country to improve the nutritionaland health status of adolescent girls and to educateand empower them.

• The Rajiv Gandhi National CrПche Scheme forthe Children of Working Mothers has been launched,under which seven lakh children are being coveredthrough 28,000 crПches.

‘Hum Hindustani…'

10

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Furthering Social Inclusion

3.1 AN INCLUSIVE AGENDA FOR THEMINORITIES

The UPA Government has given focus to minorityaffairs by setting a wide-ranging agenda for fosteringgreater inclusiveness in society, and launching severalmajor initiatives to improve the economic andeducational status of the minorities.

3.1.1 Institutional strengthening for minorities

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs has been setup and budgetary support to it rapidly expanded,doubling this year over last year’s budget.

• The UPA Government has initiated legislationfor giving constitutional status to the NationalCommission of Minorities.

• The Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programmefor the Welfare of Minorities has been recast toinclude specific programmes to ensure that thebenefits of various government schemes reachthe disadvantaged sections of the minoritycommunities by focusing sharply on social,educational and economic improvement of theminorities, providing for earmarking of 15%outlays in certain schemes, and locatingdevelopmental facilities in minority concentrationareas. Sachar committee has made 76recommendations, which have been accepted.Both are being implemented.

• The UPA government has taken updevelopment of 90 minority concentration districtsand has made provision of Rs. 3,780 crore in the11th Plan for this.

• The proportion of priority sector lendinggoing to the minority communities is beingstepped up from the existing 9% to 15%.

• Branches of public sector banks are beingopened in districts with substantial minoritypopulation.

• 15% of physical targets and financial outlayshave been earmarked for the minorities inidentified schemes.

• The equity base of the National MinoritiesDevelopment Finance Corporation has beenaugmented from Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 650 crore

and will be enhanced further by another Rs. 75crore this year to enable it to expand its operationsand reach significantly.

• In order to ensure fair representation to theminorities in government employment, theGovernment of India has issued instructions toall ministries, public sector enterprises andfinancial institutions requiring inclusion of atleast one member belonging to a minoritycommunity in selection boards or committees.Further, vacancy circular is required to bedistributed in local language in local areas ofminority community population, besides ensuringthat advertisements are also issued in thelanguage(s) spoken by a large number of peopleof the State.

• Ministry of Railways has issued instructionsthat recruitment notices be published in Urdunewspapers in States having Urdu as the secondofficial language and has also permitted Urdu asthe medium of examination for Group ‘D’ postsin such States.

• Significant improvement has taken place inthe proportion of persons belonging to theminority communities in recruitment to the centralparamilitary forces, with 11.6% of the vacantposts being filled up by persons belonging to theminority communities over the last three years.

• A number of measures have been taken forenhancing opportunities for education.

3.1.2 Prime Minister’s new 15-Point Programme for the Welfare ofMinorities and implementation of Sachar committee’s recommendations

3.1.3 Enhancing opportunities for education

• The UPA Government has established theNational Commission for Minority EducationalInstitutions, giving minority educational institutionsthe legal right to seek affiliation to any university

of their choice, thereby ensuring that provisions ofthe Constitution that give minorities the right toestablish and administer educational institutions oftheir choice are implemented effectively.

• 2,180 new residential Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya schools have been sanctioned, including270 in minority concentration blocks, and areproviding elementary education to out-of-schoolgirls, primarily from the minorities and weakersections of society.

• To enable the Maulana Azad EducationFoundation to expand its activities, its corpus hasbeen increased from Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 250 croreand is being further enhanced by another Rs. 60crore this year. It will be increased to Rs. 500 croreby 2012.

• Over the past four years, several thousand Urduteachers have been put into position.

• Special allocations, over and above the normalplan grant, have been released through the UGC tocentral universities that cater to the needs of theminorities.

• Schemes for pre-examination coaching ofcandidates belonging to the minority communities,earlier confined to Government institutions, havebeen expanded to include reputed private coachinginstitutes having a track record of showing goodresults in competitive examinations.

• The 11th Plan provides Rs. 800 crore for merit-cum-means scholarships for professional coursesand nearly Rs. 3,300 crore for post and pre-matriculation scholarship programmes for minoritystudents.

• The UPA Government has announced the launchof a scheme for modernising madrassa educationthis year.

3.1.4 Better dispensation for Haj pilgrims

• The UPA Government has raised the HajCommittee pilgrim quota from 72,000 to 110,000.

• Several improvements in pilgrim facilities havebeen introduced in terms of computerisation ofpilgrim arrangements and availability of informationthrough website, location and norms ofaccommodation, health facilities, etc. Group accidentcompensation scheme has been introduced. Severalnew embarkation points have been added.

3.1.5 Urdu channel

• The UPA Government has launched a round-

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Furthering Social Inclusion

3.1 AN INCLUSIVE AGENDA FOR THEMINORITIES

The UPA Government has given focus to minorityaffairs by setting a wide-ranging agenda for fosteringgreater inclusiveness in society, and launching severalmajor initiatives to improve the economic andeducational status of the minorities.

3.1.1 Institutional strengthening for minorities

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs has been setup and budgetary support to it rapidly expanded,doubling this year over last year’s budget.

• The UPA Government has initiated legislationfor giving constitutional status to the NationalCommission of Minorities.

• The Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programmefor the Welfare of Minorities has been recast toinclude specific programmes to ensure that thebenefits of various government schemes reachthe disadvantaged sections of the minoritycommunities by focusing sharply on social,educational and economic improvement of theminorities, providing for earmarking of 15%outlays in certain schemes, and locatingdevelopmental facilities in minority concentrationareas. Sachar committee has made 76recommendations, which have been accepted.Both are being implemented.

• The UPA government has taken updevelopment of 90 minority concentration districtsand has made provision of Rs. 3,780 crore in the11th Plan for this.

• The proportion of priority sector lendinggoing to the minority communities is beingstepped up from the existing 9% to 15%.

• Branches of public sector banks are beingopened in districts with substantial minoritypopulation.

• 15% of physical targets and financial outlayshave been earmarked for the minorities inidentified schemes.

• The equity base of the National MinoritiesDevelopment Finance Corporation has beenaugmented from Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 650 crore

and will be enhanced further by another Rs. 75crore this year to enable it to expand its operationsand reach significantly.

• In order to ensure fair representation to theminorities in government employment, theGovernment of India has issued instructions toall ministries, public sector enterprises andfinancial institutions requiring inclusion of atleast one member belonging to a minoritycommunity in selection boards or committees.Further, vacancy circular is required to bedistributed in local language in local areas ofminority community population, besides ensuringthat advertisements are also issued in thelanguage(s) spoken by a large number of peopleof the State.

• Ministry of Railways has issued instructionsthat recruitment notices be published in Urdunewspapers in States having Urdu as the secondofficial language and has also permitted Urdu asthe medium of examination for Group ‘D’ postsin such States.

• Significant improvement has taken place inthe proportion of persons belonging to theminority communities in recruitment to the centralparamilitary forces, with 11.6% of the vacantposts being filled up by persons belonging to theminority communities over the last three years.

• A number of measures have been taken forenhancing opportunities for education.

3.1.2 Prime Minister’s new 15-Point Programme for the Welfare ofMinorities and implementation of Sachar committee’s recommendations

3.1.3 Enhancing opportunities for education

• The UPA Government has established theNational Commission for Minority EducationalInstitutions, giving minority educational institutionsthe legal right to seek affiliation to any university

of their choice, thereby ensuring that provisions ofthe Constitution that give minorities the right toestablish and administer educational institutions oftheir choice are implemented effectively.

• 2,180 new residential Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya schools have been sanctioned, including270 in minority concentration blocks, and areproviding elementary education to out-of-schoolgirls, primarily from the minorities and weakersections of society.

• To enable the Maulana Azad EducationFoundation to expand its activities, its corpus hasbeen increased from Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 250 croreand is being further enhanced by another Rs. 60crore this year. It will be increased to Rs. 500 croreby 2012.

• Over the past four years, several thousand Urduteachers have been put into position.

• Special allocations, over and above the normalplan grant, have been released through the UGC tocentral universities that cater to the needs of theminorities.

• Schemes for pre-examination coaching ofcandidates belonging to the minority communities,earlier confined to Government institutions, havebeen expanded to include reputed private coachinginstitutes having a track record of showing goodresults in competitive examinations.

• The 11th Plan provides Rs. 800 crore for merit-cum-means scholarships for professional coursesand nearly Rs. 3,300 crore for post and pre-matriculation scholarship programmes for minoritystudents.

• The UPA Government has announced the launchof a scheme for modernising madrassa educationthis year.

3.1.4 Better dispensation for Haj pilgrims

• The UPA Government has raised the HajCommittee pilgrim quota from 72,000 to 110,000.

• Several improvements in pilgrim facilities havebeen introduced in terms of computerisation ofpilgrim arrangements and availability of informationthrough website, location and norms ofaccommodation, health facilities, etc. Group accidentcompensation scheme has been introduced. Severalnew embarkation points have been added.

3.1.5 Urdu channel

• The UPA Government has launched a round-

12 13

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the-clock Urdu channel to meet the linguisticaspirations of Urdu-speaking people and helppreserve and promote the rich cultural and literaryheritage of Urdu language.

3.2 EMPOWERING WOMEN

The UPA Government has given greater focus toissues relating to women through creation of anindependent Ministry of Women and ChildDevelopment, initiation of legislation that has takenthe country closer to complete legal equality forwomen, gender budgeting and initiation ofprogrammes for greater inclusion of women in allwalks of life.

3.2.1 Law

• The UPA Government initiated the Protectionof Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, whichhas given more effective protection to women whoare victims of violence of any kind occurring withina family and provided them a civil remedy to dealwith such violence.

• The UPA Government initiated the HinduSuccession Act, 1955 to make Hindu women’sinheritance rights in coparcenary property equal tothat of men.

• Amendments initiated by the UPA Governmenthave been enacted prohibiting arrest of women aftersunset and before sunrise, medical examination ofpersons accused of committing or attempting tocommit rape, and mandatory judicial inquiry in caseof rape while in police custody.

• The UPA Government has introduced a bill inParliament to amend the Factories Act, 1948 in orderto provide flexibility in the employment of womenat night while requiring the employer to ensuremeasures for safety and protection, and therebygenerate employment opportunities for women.

3.2.2 Financial focus

• The UPA Government has introduced genderbudgeting for improving the sensitivity ofprogrammes and schemes to women’s welfare. Thebudgetary outlay for 100% women-specific

programmes has been rising every year and this yearit is Rs. 11,460 crore.

• Ensuring that at least 33% of the beneficiariesof all government schemes are women and girlchildren has been laid down as a key target in the11th Plan.

3.2.3 Women’s reservation

• A bill for introducing one third reservation forwomen in legislatures was drafted. In an effort tobuild a consensus, the UPA Government heldmeetings with all opposition parties and with allUPA constituent parties. Discussions were also heldwith women's groups and other stakeholders. Thegovernment has now tabled the new bill inParliament.

• The new Cantonment Act, 2006 initiated by theUPA Government has provided for reservation forwomen for the first time and wards have beenreserved accordingly in the elections to cantonmentboards scheduled to be held in 2008.

3.2.4 Girls’ education

• 2,180 residential Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya schools have been sanctioned and areproviding elementary education to 1,82,000 out-of-school girls.

3.2.5 Women officers in the Army

• All officers, including those in short servicecommission, are now eligible to hold substantiverank of captain, major and lieutenant colonel aftertwo, six and 13 years of reckonable servicerespectively and tenure of short service commissionofficers has been made extendable from 10 years to14 years, ensuring parity for women officers withtheir male counterparts.

3.3 EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENTOF THE WEAKER SECTIONS

The UPA Government has given greater focus toempowerment and development of the weakersections through initiation of progressive legislation,ensuring better representation in government

employment, greater investment and initiation ofwide-ranging programmes.

3.3.1 Affirmative action

• The UPA Government has filled up over 53,000vacancies through direct recruitment or promotionwith members belonging to the scheduled castes andscheduled tribes in an unprecedented special driveto clear the backlog of vacancies for reserved posts.

• Amendments initiated by the UPA Governmenthave been effected in the Constitution to facilitategreater access to education for students belongingto the scheduled castes and tribes and the sociallyand educationally backward classes.

• The new Cantonment Act, 2006 initiated by theUPA Government has provided for reservation forscheduled castes and scheduled tribes for the firsttime and wards have been reserved accordingly forelections to cantonment boards scheduled to be heldthis year.

• A coordination committee for affirmative actionfor the scheduled castes and tribes in the privatesector initiated consultations with apex industryassociations, with a view to explore the best possibleway to fulfil the aspirations of the youths belonging

to the scheduled castes and tribes, and has submittedan interim report suggesting certain action points tomove forward on this issue. The report is beingconsidered.

3.3.2 Education

• The UPA Government has expanded provisionof scholarships to students belonging to weakersections of society.

• To prepare candidates from among the scheduledcastes and tribes for selection to academic positionsand for doctoral studies, the Rajiv Gandhi NationalFellowship Scheme has been launched.

• 2,180 new residential Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya schools, including 1,205 in blocks havingconcentration of scheduled castes and tribes, havebeen sanctioned for elementary education to out-of-school girls, primarily from the weaker sections ofsociety and the minorities.

• Top Class Education Scheme has been launched,giving meritorious students education in premiereducation institutions after class XII.

• The scheme of free coaching has been revisedto attract reputed institutions.

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the-clock Urdu channel to meet the linguisticaspirations of Urdu-speaking people and helppreserve and promote the rich cultural and literaryheritage of Urdu language.

3.2 EMPOWERING WOMEN

The UPA Government has given greater focus toissues relating to women through creation of anindependent Ministry of Women and ChildDevelopment, initiation of legislation that has takenthe country closer to complete legal equality forwomen, gender budgeting and initiation ofprogrammes for greater inclusion of women in allwalks of life.

3.2.1 Law

• The UPA Government initiated the Protectionof Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, whichhas given more effective protection to women whoare victims of violence of any kind occurring withina family and provided them a civil remedy to dealwith such violence.

• The UPA Government initiated the HinduSuccession Act, 1955 to make Hindu women’sinheritance rights in coparcenary property equal tothat of men.

• Amendments initiated by the UPA Governmenthave been enacted prohibiting arrest of women aftersunset and before sunrise, medical examination ofpersons accused of committing or attempting tocommit rape, and mandatory judicial inquiry in caseof rape while in police custody.

• The UPA Government has introduced a bill inParliament to amend the Factories Act, 1948 in orderto provide flexibility in the employment of womenat night while requiring the employer to ensuremeasures for safety and protection, and therebygenerate employment opportunities for women.

3.2.2 Financial focus

• The UPA Government has introduced genderbudgeting for improving the sensitivity ofprogrammes and schemes to women’s welfare. Thebudgetary outlay for 100% women-specific

programmes has been rising every year and this yearit is Rs. 11,460 crore.

• Ensuring that at least 33% of the beneficiariesof all government schemes are women and girlchildren has been laid down as a key target in the11th Plan.

3.2.3 Women’s reservation

• A bill for introducing one third reservation forwomen in legislatures was drafted. In an effort tobuild a consensus, the UPA Government heldmeetings with all opposition parties and with allUPA constituent parties. Discussions were also heldwith women's groups and other stakeholders. Thegovernment has now tabled the new bill inParliament.

• The new Cantonment Act, 2006 initiated by theUPA Government has provided for reservation forwomen for the first time and wards have beenreserved accordingly in the elections to cantonmentboards scheduled to be held in 2008.

3.2.4 Girls’ education

• 2,180 residential Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya schools have been sanctioned and areproviding elementary education to 1,82,000 out-of-school girls.

3.2.5 Women officers in the Army

• All officers, including those in short servicecommission, are now eligible to hold substantiverank of captain, major and lieutenant colonel aftertwo, six and 13 years of reckonable servicerespectively and tenure of short service commissionofficers has been made extendable from 10 years to14 years, ensuring parity for women officers withtheir male counterparts.

3.3 EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENTOF THE WEAKER SECTIONS

The UPA Government has given greater focus toempowerment and development of the weakersections through initiation of progressive legislation,ensuring better representation in government

employment, greater investment and initiation ofwide-ranging programmes.

3.3.1 Affirmative action

• The UPA Government has filled up over 53,000vacancies through direct recruitment or promotionwith members belonging to the scheduled castes andscheduled tribes in an unprecedented special driveto clear the backlog of vacancies for reserved posts.

• Amendments initiated by the UPA Governmenthave been effected in the Constitution to facilitategreater access to education for students belongingto the scheduled castes and tribes and the sociallyand educationally backward classes.

• The new Cantonment Act, 2006 initiated by theUPA Government has provided for reservation forscheduled castes and scheduled tribes for the firsttime and wards have been reserved accordingly forelections to cantonment boards scheduled to be heldthis year.

• A coordination committee for affirmative actionfor the scheduled castes and tribes in the privatesector initiated consultations with apex industryassociations, with a view to explore the best possibleway to fulfil the aspirations of the youths belonging

to the scheduled castes and tribes, and has submittedan interim report suggesting certain action points tomove forward on this issue. The report is beingconsidered.

3.3.2 Education

• The UPA Government has expanded provisionof scholarships to students belonging to weakersections of society.

• To prepare candidates from among the scheduledcastes and tribes for selection to academic positionsand for doctoral studies, the Rajiv Gandhi NationalFellowship Scheme has been launched.

• 2,180 new residential Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya schools, including 1,205 in blocks havingconcentration of scheduled castes and tribes, havebeen sanctioned for elementary education to out-of-school girls, primarily from the weaker sections ofsociety and the minorities.

• Top Class Education Scheme has been launched,giving meritorious students education in premiereducation institutions after class XII.

• The scheme of free coaching has been revisedto attract reputed institutions.

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• The Indira Gandhi National Tribal UniversityAct initiated by the UPA Government has beenpassed for setting up the University at Amarkantakin Madhya Pradesh to promote studies and researchin various aspects of life of tribal communities.

• Over the last four years, 476 hostels have beensanctioned for the scheduled tribes, 156 ashramschools started, 35 Eklavya model residential schoolsmade functional, and assistance provided for 84educational complexes for scheduled tribe girls inlow literacy districts.

3.3.3 Rehabilitation of manual scavengers

• The UPA Government has launched a new SelfEmployment Scheme for Rehabilitation of ManualScavengers to rehabilitate scavengers in alternativeoccupations by giving them financial assistance andskill development training for self-employmentventures.

3.3.4 Rights of scheduled tribe and other traditionalforest-dwellers in forests

• The UPA Government initiated the historicScheduled Tribes and Other Traditional ForestDwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act, 2006and has notified it this year to provide rights overland in historical possession of adivasi and traditionalforest dwellers, correcting major historical wrongsin not having their rights recorded. In addition toland rights, rights have also been given on minorforest produce and community assets.

3.3.5 Welfare and development of primitive tribes

• The UPA Government has provided insurancecover under Janashree Bima Yojana to four lakhprimitive tribe families.

• A long-term conservation-cum-developmentplan has been formulated for each primitive tribeand Rs. 670 crore earmarked for this in the 11th Plan.

3.3.6 Development of forest villages

• The UPA Government has launched aprogramme for the development of 2,388 forestvillages, with release of assistance to the tune of

Rs. 459 crore.

3.3.7 Developing fields of farmers belonging to thescheduled castes and tribes

• The UPA Government has addressed the needfor irrigation and other improvements on the fieldsof farmers belonging to the scheduled castes andscheduled tribes through the National RuralEmployment Guarantee Programme, in addition toprogrammes for irrigation under Bharat Nirman.

3.3.8 Finance Development Corporations

• The UPA Government has provided loansthrough the National Finance DevelopmentCorporations for Scheduled Castes, Other BackwardClasses and Safai Karmacharis to around 1,73,000,1,45,000 and 67,000 persons respectively over thepast four years. The National Scheduled TribesFinance Development Corporation has assisted over50,000 persons in income generating activities overthe period. The Government is enhancing their equitybases to enable them to further expand their activities.

3.3.9 Outlays for schemes benefitting the scheduledcastes and tribes

• The UPA Government has substantially enhancedbudget allocation for schemes benefiting thescheduled castes and scheduled tribes each year, andthe allocation has increased to Rs. 18,983 crore in2008-09.

3.4 INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OFPERSONS WITH DISABILITY

The UPA Government has adopted and begun effectiveaction on the National Policy for Persons withDisabilities through affirmative action in governmentemployment, catalytic scheme for private employment,and other development and welfare measures.

3.4.1 Employment and livelihood measures ofpersons with disability

• Reservation for the persons with disabilities hasincreased to 19 civil services. Result is visible in theform of appointment of persons suffering fromblindness, low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor

disability or cerebral palsy in civil services, includingthe All India Services.

• A scheme has been approved for providing onelakh jobs annually to persons with disabilities, witha proposed outlay of Rs. 18,000 crore in the 11thPlan. The scheme will incentivise employers in theorganised private sector to provide employment topersons with disability by reimbursing the employer’scontribution for the first three years, once theemployee is enrolled under the Employees ProvidentFund and the Employees State Insurance schemes.

• The National Handicapped DevelopmentCorporation has provided loans to around 30,000persons over the past four years and its equity baseis being enhanced to enable it to further expand itsactivities.

3.4.2 Welfare and development measures

• Coverage and scope of the scheme for providingessential devices has been expanded with coverageof persons having higher income levels and inclusionof more devices like motorised tricycles, screen-reading software for the disabled, etc.

• The National Institute for Empowerment ofPersons with Multiple Disabilities has been set upin Chennai.

• A National Programme for Prevention andControl of Deafness has been launched.

3.5 FREEDOM FIGHTERS

• The UPA Government has doubled the pensionof freedom fighters and spouses of deceased freedomfighters to Rs. 10,000 per month.

• The monthly pension of unmarried andunemployed dependent daughters of deceasedfreedom fighters has been enhanced from Rs. 600for the eldest daughter and Rs. 350 for youngerdaughters to Rs. 1,500 for all daughters.

• It has been decided to honour the participants inthe Arzi Hukumat Movement of Junagadh in 1947by giving a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh, along with aletter of appreciation/gratitude on the part of the

Government of India.

3.6 CARING FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS

The UPA Government has expanded the coverageand extent of social security for senior citizensthrough changes in the old age pension scheme,facilitation of savings and income increase,announcement of a National Programme for theElderly, and initiation of legislation that will ensuremaintenance support for them upon enactment.

3.6.1 Facilitating incomes

• The UPA Government has increased old agepension from Rs. 75 to Rs. 200 per beneficiary permonth and extended coverage to all persons of theage of 65 years and above who are living below thepoverty line under the Indira Gandhi National OldAge Pension Scheme.

• A Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has beenlaunched, with attractive interest rate and eligibilityfor tax exemption up to a limit.

• The UPA Government has announcedintroduction of reverse mortgage through the NationalHousing Bank. Under this, a senior citizen house-owner can avail of a monthly stream of incomeagainst mortgage of her / his house, while remainingthe owner and occupying the house throughout her/ his lifetime, without repaying or servicing the loanand without attracting income tax or capital gainstax, subject to some conditions.

• Income tax exemption limit for senior citizenshas been progressively enhanced to Rs. 2.25 lakhand additional income tax deductions have beengiven on payment of medical insurance premiumfor senior citizens either by themselves or theirchildren.

• The recommendation of the Sixth PayCommission will result in enhancement of pensions.

• For women senior citizens, 50% concession onrail travel has been provided.

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• The Indira Gandhi National Tribal UniversityAct initiated by the UPA Government has beenpassed for setting up the University at Amarkantakin Madhya Pradesh to promote studies and researchin various aspects of life of tribal communities.

• Over the last four years, 476 hostels have beensanctioned for the scheduled tribes, 156 ashramschools started, 35 Eklavya model residential schoolsmade functional, and assistance provided for 84educational complexes for scheduled tribe girls inlow literacy districts.

3.3.3 Rehabilitation of manual scavengers

• The UPA Government has launched a new SelfEmployment Scheme for Rehabilitation of ManualScavengers to rehabilitate scavengers in alternativeoccupations by giving them financial assistance andskill development training for self-employmentventures.

3.3.4 Rights of scheduled tribe and other traditionalforest-dwellers in forests

• The UPA Government initiated the historicScheduled Tribes and Other Traditional ForestDwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act, 2006and has notified it this year to provide rights overland in historical possession of adivasi and traditionalforest dwellers, correcting major historical wrongsin not having their rights recorded. In addition toland rights, rights have also been given on minorforest produce and community assets.

3.3.5 Welfare and development of primitive tribes

• The UPA Government has provided insurancecover under Janashree Bima Yojana to four lakhprimitive tribe families.

• A long-term conservation-cum-developmentplan has been formulated for each primitive tribeand Rs. 670 crore earmarked for this in the 11th Plan.

3.3.6 Development of forest villages

• The UPA Government has launched aprogramme for the development of 2,388 forestvillages, with release of assistance to the tune of

Rs. 459 crore.

3.3.7 Developing fields of farmers belonging to thescheduled castes and tribes

• The UPA Government has addressed the needfor irrigation and other improvements on the fieldsof farmers belonging to the scheduled castes andscheduled tribes through the National RuralEmployment Guarantee Programme, in addition toprogrammes for irrigation under Bharat Nirman.

3.3.8 Finance Development Corporations

• The UPA Government has provided loansthrough the National Finance DevelopmentCorporations for Scheduled Castes, Other BackwardClasses and Safai Karmacharis to around 1,73,000,1,45,000 and 67,000 persons respectively over thepast four years. The National Scheduled TribesFinance Development Corporation has assisted over50,000 persons in income generating activities overthe period. The Government is enhancing their equitybases to enable them to further expand their activities.

3.3.9 Outlays for schemes benefitting the scheduledcastes and tribes

• The UPA Government has substantially enhancedbudget allocation for schemes benefiting thescheduled castes and scheduled tribes each year, andthe allocation has increased to Rs. 18,983 crore in2008-09.

3.4 INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OFPERSONS WITH DISABILITY

The UPA Government has adopted and begun effectiveaction on the National Policy for Persons withDisabilities through affirmative action in governmentemployment, catalytic scheme for private employment,and other development and welfare measures.

3.4.1 Employment and livelihood measures ofpersons with disability

• Reservation for the persons with disabilities hasincreased to 19 civil services. Result is visible in theform of appointment of persons suffering fromblindness, low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor

disability or cerebral palsy in civil services, includingthe All India Services.

• A scheme has been approved for providing onelakh jobs annually to persons with disabilities, witha proposed outlay of Rs. 18,000 crore in the 11thPlan. The scheme will incentivise employers in theorganised private sector to provide employment topersons with disability by reimbursing the employer’scontribution for the first three years, once theemployee is enrolled under the Employees ProvidentFund and the Employees State Insurance schemes.

• The National Handicapped DevelopmentCorporation has provided loans to around 30,000persons over the past four years and its equity baseis being enhanced to enable it to further expand itsactivities.

3.4.2 Welfare and development measures

• Coverage and scope of the scheme for providingessential devices has been expanded with coverageof persons having higher income levels and inclusionof more devices like motorised tricycles, screen-reading software for the disabled, etc.

• The National Institute for Empowerment ofPersons with Multiple Disabilities has been set upin Chennai.

• A National Programme for Prevention andControl of Deafness has been launched.

3.5 FREEDOM FIGHTERS

• The UPA Government has doubled the pensionof freedom fighters and spouses of deceased freedomfighters to Rs. 10,000 per month.

• The monthly pension of unmarried andunemployed dependent daughters of deceasedfreedom fighters has been enhanced from Rs. 600for the eldest daughter and Rs. 350 for youngerdaughters to Rs. 1,500 for all daughters.

• It has been decided to honour the participants inthe Arzi Hukumat Movement of Junagadh in 1947by giving a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh, along with aletter of appreciation/gratitude on the part of the

Government of India.

3.6 CARING FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS

The UPA Government has expanded the coverageand extent of social security for senior citizensthrough changes in the old age pension scheme,facilitation of savings and income increase,announcement of a National Programme for theElderly, and initiation of legislation that will ensuremaintenance support for them upon enactment.

3.6.1 Facilitating incomes

• The UPA Government has increased old agepension from Rs. 75 to Rs. 200 per beneficiary permonth and extended coverage to all persons of theage of 65 years and above who are living below thepoverty line under the Indira Gandhi National OldAge Pension Scheme.

• A Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has beenlaunched, with attractive interest rate and eligibilityfor tax exemption up to a limit.

• The UPA Government has announcedintroduction of reverse mortgage through the NationalHousing Bank. Under this, a senior citizen house-owner can avail of a monthly stream of incomeagainst mortgage of her / his house, while remainingthe owner and occupying the house throughout her/ his lifetime, without repaying or servicing the loanand without attracting income tax or capital gainstax, subject to some conditions.

• Income tax exemption limit for senior citizenshas been progressively enhanced to Rs. 2.25 lakhand additional income tax deductions have beengiven on payment of medical insurance premiumfor senior citizens either by themselves or theirchildren.

• The recommendation of the Sixth PayCommission will result in enhancement of pensions.

• For women senior citizens, 50% concession onrail travel has been provided.

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3.8.2 Social security initiatives

• The UPA Government has introduced theUnorganised Sector Social Security Bill, 2007, whichenvisages social security schemes for workers in theunorganized sector. In anticipation of the bill beingmade into law, the Government has launched threemajor schemes to effectively put in place a socialsecurity net—

− Aam Admi Bima Yojana for life anddisability insurance cover to one member ofestimated 1 crore landless households.

− Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana for familyhealth cover to estimated 6 crore unorganisedsector workers living below the poverty line.

− Indira Gandhi National Old Age PensionScheme, covering all 1 crore persons over65 years living below the poverty line.

• In addition, the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi SwasthyaBima Yojana has been launched to provide healthinsurance coverage to artisans and their families andthe Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive WelfareScheme launched for insurance cover to weavers.

• A major step has been taken towards provisionof social security to labour in the unorganised sectorin rural areas through enactment of the NationalRural Employment Guarantee Act, assuring 100days of wage employment in a year.

• The national floor level minimum wage hasbeen raised from Rs 66 to Rs 80 per day.

3.6.2 Welfare measures

• The UPA Government has announced that aNational Programme for the Elderly will be startedthis year and, under it, two National Institutes ofAgeing, eight regional centres, and a department forgeriatric medical care in one medical college ortertiary level hospital in each State will be establishedin the 11th Plan.

• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents andSenior Citizens Bill, 2007 has been introduced inParliament to provide for more effective provisionsfor the maintenance and welfare of parents and seniorcitizens.

3.7 WELFARE OF EX-SERVICEMEN &SERVING DEFENCE SERVICE PERSONNEL

3.7.1 Welfare of defence service personnel andpensioners

• The UPA Government has set up the Departmentof Ex-servicemen’s Welfare for focused andcomprehensive attention to the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen.

• Placement of ex-servicemen in jobs was takenup as a special drive, in collaboration with thecorporate sector, to provide gainful reemploymentto ex-servicemen and more than 45,000 ex-servicemen were reemployed in 2007.

• Pre-retirement training imparted for suitableplacement has been enhanced and expanded.

• Ministries have been advised to instruct publicsector undertakings to engage only ex-servicemensecurity agencies for security related work.

• Availing of benefits under the Ex-servicemenContributory Health Scheme has been made easierand the number of polyclinics and empanelled privatehospitals and diagnostic centres increased substantially.

3.7.2 Welfare of defence service personnel

• The UPA Government initiated the bill for theArmed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, which hasprovided a meaningful opportunity to service

personnel for judicial review of decisions given incourt martial and grievances relating to servicematters.

• The pension benefits of about 12 lakh personnelbelow officer rank, particularly those in the rank ofsepoy, naik and havildar, have been improved.

• Leave policy has been liberalised, enabling threevisits to home in a year against two earlier.

• All personnel serving in field, high altitude,counter-insurgency or counter-terrorism operationalareas have been granted one additional free railwaywarrant for visiting home town or selected place ofresidence in a calendar year. Distance restriction of1,450 km on LTC has been removed.

• High altitude allowance in certain areas at analtitude of more than 14,000 feet above the sea levelhas been enhanced.

• Instructions have been issued for finalisation ofcases of next-of-kin seeking benefits given in respectof personnel dying in harness within eight weeks.

• The Prime Minister’s Merit Scholarship Schemehas been introduced for giving 5,000 scholarshipsevery year to wards of armed forces personnel.

• Housing projects have been initiated under JaiJawan Awas Yojana.

3.8 WELFARE OF WORKERS IN THEUNORGANISED SECTOR

The UPA Government has commenced creation ofa social security net through a series of majorinitiatives, viz., Aam Admi Bima Yojana, RashtriyaSwasthya Bima Yojana and Indira Gandhi NationalOld Age Pension Scheme.

3.8.1 National Commission on Enterprises in theUnorganised Sector

The National Commission on Enterprises in theUnorganised Sector has been set up to act as anadvisory body and a watchdog and to submit periodicreports to the Government. Based on its suggestions,a number of major initiatives have been taken.

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3.8.2 Social security initiatives

• The UPA Government has introduced theUnorganised Sector Social Security Bill, 2007, whichenvisages social security schemes for workers in theunorganized sector. In anticipation of the bill beingmade into law, the Government has launched threemajor schemes to effectively put in place a socialsecurity net—

− Aam Admi Bima Yojana for life anddisability insurance cover to one member ofestimated 1 crore landless households.

− Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana for familyhealth cover to estimated 6 crore unorganisedsector workers living below the poverty line.

− Indira Gandhi National Old Age PensionScheme, covering all 1 crore persons over65 years living below the poverty line.

• In addition, the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi SwasthyaBima Yojana has been launched to provide healthinsurance coverage to artisans and their families andthe Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive WelfareScheme launched for insurance cover to weavers.

• A major step has been taken towards provisionof social security to labour in the unorganised sectorin rural areas through enactment of the NationalRural Employment Guarantee Act, assuring 100days of wage employment in a year.

• The national floor level minimum wage hasbeen raised from Rs 66 to Rs 80 per day.

3.6.2 Welfare measures

• The UPA Government has announced that aNational Programme for the Elderly will be startedthis year and, under it, two National Institutes ofAgeing, eight regional centres, and a department forgeriatric medical care in one medical college ortertiary level hospital in each State will be establishedin the 11th Plan.

• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents andSenior Citizens Bill, 2007 has been introduced inParliament to provide for more effective provisionsfor the maintenance and welfare of parents and seniorcitizens.

3.7 WELFARE OF EX-SERVICEMEN &SERVING DEFENCE SERVICE PERSONNEL

3.7.1 Welfare of defence service personnel andpensioners

• The UPA Government has set up the Departmentof Ex-servicemen’s Welfare for focused andcomprehensive attention to the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen.

• Placement of ex-servicemen in jobs was takenup as a special drive, in collaboration with thecorporate sector, to provide gainful reemploymentto ex-servicemen and more than 45,000 ex-servicemen were reemployed in 2007.

• Pre-retirement training imparted for suitableplacement has been enhanced and expanded.

• Ministries have been advised to instruct publicsector undertakings to engage only ex-servicemensecurity agencies for security related work.

• Availing of benefits under the Ex-servicemenContributory Health Scheme has been made easierand the number of polyclinics and empanelled privatehospitals and diagnostic centres increased substantially.

3.7.2 Welfare of defence service personnel

• The UPA Government initiated the bill for theArmed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, which hasprovided a meaningful opportunity to service

personnel for judicial review of decisions given incourt martial and grievances relating to servicematters.

• The pension benefits of about 12 lakh personnelbelow officer rank, particularly those in the rank ofsepoy, naik and havildar, have been improved.

• Leave policy has been liberalised, enabling threevisits to home in a year against two earlier.

• All personnel serving in field, high altitude,counter-insurgency or counter-terrorism operationalareas have been granted one additional free railwaywarrant for visiting home town or selected place ofresidence in a calendar year. Distance restriction of1,450 km on LTC has been removed.

• High altitude allowance in certain areas at analtitude of more than 14,000 feet above the sea levelhas been enhanced.

• Instructions have been issued for finalisation ofcases of next-of-kin seeking benefits given in respectof personnel dying in harness within eight weeks.

• The Prime Minister’s Merit Scholarship Schemehas been introduced for giving 5,000 scholarshipsevery year to wards of armed forces personnel.

• Housing projects have been initiated under JaiJawan Awas Yojana.

3.8 WELFARE OF WORKERS IN THEUNORGANISED SECTOR

The UPA Government has commenced creation ofa social security net through a series of majorinitiatives, viz., Aam Admi Bima Yojana, RashtriyaSwasthya Bima Yojana and Indira Gandhi NationalOld Age Pension Scheme.

3.8.1 National Commission on Enterprises in theUnorganised Sector

The National Commission on Enterprises in theUnorganised Sector has been set up to act as anadvisory body and a watchdog and to submit periodicreports to the Government. Based on its suggestions,a number of major initiatives have been taken.

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‘Together we can.Together we will...’

Rural Renewal

4.1 BHARAT NIRMAN

The UPA Government has launched Bharat Nirmanfor comprehensive improvement of rural

infrastructure to ensure inclusive growth by ensuringthat all eligible villages / habitations have electricity,safe drinking water, all-weather roads, andtelephones, and that rural housing and irrigationpotential created are substantially augmented.

4.1.1 Progress

• From the launch of Bharat Nirman in 2005 tillFebruary 2008, over 17,000 habitations have beenconnected by all weather roads, over 45,000 villagesprovided electricity under Rajiv Gandhi GrameenVidyutikaran Yojana, over 45 lakh houses constructedfor the rural poor, over 3 lakh habitations providedsafe drinking water and more than 38 lakh hectaresof land brought under irrigation. The scale ofassistance for house building has been increasedprogressively over the past four years from Rs.20,000 to Rs. 35,000.

• Only 12,000 villages remained to be connectedby telephone. Number of rural telephone connectionshas more than doubled over the past four years andtariffs have fallen dramatically. To provide mobiletelephones and broadband connectivity for Internetand other modern telecom facilities in rural areas,a massive scheme for creation of rural telecominfrastructure has been taken up.

4.2 RURAL EMPLOYMENT

The UPA Government initiated the bill enacted asthe National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,which has entitled the rural poor to guaranteedemployment for hundred days. A social safety net

of this dimension has not been undertaken anywherein the world.

4.2.1 National Rural Employment GuaranteeProgramme

• The UPA Government has progressively

expanded coverage under the Act from 200 districtsto all 604 rural districts of the country, effectivefrom April 2008.

• Over three crore people are being providedemployment annually in 330 districts and many morewill benefit with the expansion of the programme.Over 17 lakh works have been taken up, out of whichover 8 lakh works have been been completed bymid-April 2008.

4.3 AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATION

The UPA Government aims at sustaining the

The National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Programme-Largest social

safety net initiative in the world

Satyan, 34 years old and a resident of a newrural settlement near Salem in Tamil Nadu, doesnot know that he is a beneficiary of the largestsafety net programme on earth, an initiative thathas a no parallel anywhere else in the world.But he knows that the 100 additional workingdays that the NREGA-guarantees him willchange his life for the better.

Earlier, with no work in the fields for monthsat a stretch, he had often thought of going tothe city to seek employment.

But this year, things worked out differently.Thanks to the NREGA, he got more than threemonths’ work in a road-building project nearhis home. With the extra money he will makeover the next two years he plans to set up asmall general merchants’ shop in his village.The NREGA-built road will also serve as hispath to success.

‘Together we can.Together we will...’

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‘Together we can.Together we will...’

Rural Renewal

4.1 BHARAT NIRMAN

The UPA Government has launched Bharat Nirmanfor comprehensive improvement of rural

infrastructure to ensure inclusive growth by ensuringthat all eligible villages / habitations have electricity,safe drinking water, all-weather roads, andtelephones, and that rural housing and irrigationpotential created are substantially augmented.

4.1.1 Progress

• From the launch of Bharat Nirman in 2005 tillFebruary 2008, over 17,000 habitations have beenconnected by all weather roads, over 45,000 villagesprovided electricity under Rajiv Gandhi GrameenVidyutikaran Yojana, over 45 lakh houses constructedfor the rural poor, over 3 lakh habitations providedsafe drinking water and more than 38 lakh hectaresof land brought under irrigation. The scale ofassistance for house building has been increasedprogressively over the past four years from Rs.20,000 to Rs. 35,000.

• Only 12,000 villages remained to be connectedby telephone. Number of rural telephone connectionshas more than doubled over the past four years andtariffs have fallen dramatically. To provide mobiletelephones and broadband connectivity for Internetand other modern telecom facilities in rural areas,a massive scheme for creation of rural telecominfrastructure has been taken up.

4.2 RURAL EMPLOYMENT

The UPA Government initiated the bill enacted asthe National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,which has entitled the rural poor to guaranteedemployment for hundred days. A social safety net

of this dimension has not been undertaken anywherein the world.

4.2.1 National Rural Employment GuaranteeProgramme

• The UPA Government has progressively

expanded coverage under the Act from 200 districtsto all 604 rural districts of the country, effectivefrom April 2008.

• Over three crore people are being providedemployment annually in 330 districts and many morewill benefit with the expansion of the programme.Over 17 lakh works have been taken up, out of whichover 8 lakh works have been been completed bymid-April 2008.

4.3 AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATION

The UPA Government aims at sustaining the

The National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Programme-Largest social

safety net initiative in the world

Satyan, 34 years old and a resident of a newrural settlement near Salem in Tamil Nadu, doesnot know that he is a beneficiary of the largestsafety net programme on earth, an initiative thathas a no parallel anywhere else in the world.But he knows that the 100 additional workingdays that the NREGA-guarantees him willchange his life for the better.

Earlier, with no work in the fields for monthsat a stretch, he had often thought of going tothe city to seek employment.

But this year, things worked out differently.Thanks to the NREGA, he got more than threemonths’ work in a road-building project nearhis home. With the extra money he will makeover the next two years he plans to set up asmall general merchants’ shop in his village.The NREGA-built road will also serve as hispath to success.

‘Together we can.Together we will...’

21

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doubling of agricultural growth achieved in 2006-07 after many years of poor growth, growingindebtedness and declining public investment inagriculture. It has taken major steps on anunprecedented scale to ensure availability of creditand waiver of debt, remunerative prices to farmers,and increase in public investment in agriculture,increasing the outlay on agriculture and irrigationthreefold to Rs. 1,38,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

4.3.1 Remunerative prices to farmers

The UPA Government has given an unprecedented56% hike of Rs. 370 per quintal in the minimumsupport price for wheat and a 33% hike for paddyover the last four years.

4.3.2 National Food Security Mission

The UPA Government has set up the National FoodSecurity Mission to enhance the production of rice,wheat and pulses by 100 lakh, 80 lakh and 20 lakhtonnes respectively in the 11th Plan in 305 districtsof 16 States, with an outlay of over Rs. 4,800 crore.

4.3.3 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

The UPA Government has launched Rashtriya KrishiVikas Yojana to incentivise States to invest more inagriculture, with an outlay of Rs. 25,000 crore.

4.3.4 Irrigation and rainfed area development

• The UPA Government has decided to take upTeesta Barrage (West Bengal), Shahpur Kandi(Punjab), Bursar and Ujh (J&K), 2nd Ravi VyasLink (Punjab), Gyspa & Renuka (Himachal Pradesh),

Lakhvar Vyasi (Uttarakhand), Kishau (HimachalPradesh & Uttarakhand), Noa-Dehang & UpperSiang (Arunachal Pradesh), Kulsi (Assam),Gosikhurd (Maharashtra) and Ken-Betwa (MadhyaPradesh) projects as national projects, with 90%central assistance.

• Bharat Nirman has brought more than 38 lakhhectares land under irrigation.

• 5.5 lakh hectare has been covered through dripand sprinkler irrigation and another four lakh hectareis targeted for this year.

• The National Rainfed Area Authority has beenestablished to foster harvesting, conservation andsustainable and equitable use of rainwater and willimplement the Rainfed Area DevelopmentProgramme from this year.

4.3.5 Debt waiver and debt relief to the tune of Rs.60,000 crore

• The UPA Government has launched a schemefor debt waiver and relief to about four crore farmersby June 2008 for all agricultural loans disbursed bybanks up to March 2007 and overdue by December2007 and which remained unpaid till February 2008,at a cost of Rs. 60,000 crore.

• For farmers with holding up to two hectaresthere will be complete waiver.

• For other farmers, there will be a rebate of 25%on payment of the balance 75%.

4.3.6 Credit

• The UPA Government, through its new creditpolicy, has ensured rapid expansion in disbursementof agricultural credit in amount and coverage, whilealso making it more affordable.

• The target set in the National Common MinimumProgramme of doubling agricultural credit in threeyears has been substantially exceeded. The target ofRs. 2,25,000 crore set for 2007-08 has been achieved.For 2008-09, a target of Rs. 2,80,000 crore has beenset.

• 2% relief in interest rates on crop loans up toRs. 3 lakh has been provided.

• Banks have been allowed to waive margin /security requirements for agricultural loans up toRs. 50,000. The limit on loans to farmers throughthe produce marketing scheme has been doubled toRs. 10 lakh.

• Over three crore new farmers have receivedloans from public sector banks, Regional RuralBanks (RRBs) and cooperative banks over the lastfour years.

• The UPA Government has taken up the revivalof the rural cooperative banking system andrecapitalisation of RRBs to improve their lendingability.

• At the end of 2007, bank loan of over Rs. 20,000crore had been availed of by over 30 lakh self helpgroups, which enabled an estimated over four crorepoor households to gain micro-finance from thebanks. In the last four years, the number of self helpgroups has tripled and credit availed by them hasgone up more than fivefold. Women in these groupshave been provided life insurance cover underJanashree Bima Yojana.

4.3.7 Package for suicide-prone districts

• A special package including measures relatingto credit, irrigation, agricultural inputs and alternativesources of income, amounting to more than Rs.16,000 crore, is being implemented in 31 districtsworst affected by farmers’ suicides.

• The entire interest on loans overdue as on 1.7.06has been waived, making the farmers eligible forfresh loan along with rescheduling of the loan withone-year moratorium.

• A special package for livestock and fisheries isalso being implemented.

4.3.8 Horticulture

The UPA Government has launched the NationalHorticulture Mission to promote holistic area-baseddevelopment of horticulture in 340 districts. An area

of 2,76,000 lakh hectares has been brought underhorticulture and another 56,000 hectares of oldplantations rejuvenated.

4.3.9 Plantation crops

• The UPA Government has set up a SpecialPurpose Tea Fund for funding replanting andrejuvenation of old tea bushes for improving theage-profile of tea plantations, which will cover about85,000 hectares area in the 11th Plan. Under a revivalpackage, 33 tea gardens which were lying closed –affecting more than 30,000 workers – are beingreopened.

• A fund for coffee replanting has been set up.Restructuring of loans and interest relief has beengiven to coffee growers to mitigate problems arisingfrom the low prices of coffee. The UPA Governmenthas introduced weather / rainfall insurance with 50%Government subsidy for small coffee-growers.Further, the extent of insurance cover under thePersonal Accident Insurance Scheme has beenenhanced and the scheme extended to coverpermanent plantation growers as well, besidespermanent workers.

• Support for replanting on lines of tea and coffeehas also been earmarked for cardamom and rubberthis year.

• The UPA Government has approved cropinsurance scheme for tea, rubber, tobacco, ginger,turmeric, chil l i , pepper and cardamom.

4.3.10 Cotton

The UPA Government, through development ofmarket yards, modernisation of a thousand ginningand pressing factories and other measures takenunder the Technology Mission on Cotton, hassucceeded in facilitating increase of over 70% incotton production and over 35% increase inproductivity, besides reducing cotton imports andimproving cotton quality.

4.3.11 Oilseeds, pulses and maize

The UPA Government is pursuing expansion of theIntegrated Oilseeds, Oil palm, Pulses and Maize

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doubling of agricultural growth achieved in 2006-07 after many years of poor growth, growingindebtedness and declining public investment inagriculture. It has taken major steps on anunprecedented scale to ensure availability of creditand waiver of debt, remunerative prices to farmers,and increase in public investment in agriculture,increasing the outlay on agriculture and irrigationthreefold to Rs. 1,38,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

4.3.1 Remunerative prices to farmers

The UPA Government has given an unprecedented56% hike of Rs. 370 per quintal in the minimumsupport price for wheat and a 33% hike for paddyover the last four years.

4.3.2 National Food Security Mission

The UPA Government has set up the National FoodSecurity Mission to enhance the production of rice,wheat and pulses by 100 lakh, 80 lakh and 20 lakhtonnes respectively in the 11th Plan in 305 districtsof 16 States, with an outlay of over Rs. 4,800 crore.

4.3.3 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

The UPA Government has launched Rashtriya KrishiVikas Yojana to incentivise States to invest more inagriculture, with an outlay of Rs. 25,000 crore.

4.3.4 Irrigation and rainfed area development

• The UPA Government has decided to take upTeesta Barrage (West Bengal), Shahpur Kandi(Punjab), Bursar and Ujh (J&K), 2nd Ravi VyasLink (Punjab), Gyspa & Renuka (Himachal Pradesh),

Lakhvar Vyasi (Uttarakhand), Kishau (HimachalPradesh & Uttarakhand), Noa-Dehang & UpperSiang (Arunachal Pradesh), Kulsi (Assam),Gosikhurd (Maharashtra) and Ken-Betwa (MadhyaPradesh) projects as national projects, with 90%central assistance.

• Bharat Nirman has brought more than 38 lakhhectares land under irrigation.

• 5.5 lakh hectare has been covered through dripand sprinkler irrigation and another four lakh hectareis targeted for this year.

• The National Rainfed Area Authority has beenestablished to foster harvesting, conservation andsustainable and equitable use of rainwater and willimplement the Rainfed Area DevelopmentProgramme from this year.

4.3.5 Debt waiver and debt relief to the tune of Rs.60,000 crore

• The UPA Government has launched a schemefor debt waiver and relief to about four crore farmersby June 2008 for all agricultural loans disbursed bybanks up to March 2007 and overdue by December2007 and which remained unpaid till February 2008,at a cost of Rs. 60,000 crore.

• For farmers with holding up to two hectaresthere will be complete waiver.

• For other farmers, there will be a rebate of 25%on payment of the balance 75%.

4.3.6 Credit

• The UPA Government, through its new creditpolicy, has ensured rapid expansion in disbursementof agricultural credit in amount and coverage, whilealso making it more affordable.

• The target set in the National Common MinimumProgramme of doubling agricultural credit in threeyears has been substantially exceeded. The target ofRs. 2,25,000 crore set for 2007-08 has been achieved.For 2008-09, a target of Rs. 2,80,000 crore has beenset.

• 2% relief in interest rates on crop loans up toRs. 3 lakh has been provided.

• Banks have been allowed to waive margin /security requirements for agricultural loans up toRs. 50,000. The limit on loans to farmers throughthe produce marketing scheme has been doubled toRs. 10 lakh.

• Over three crore new farmers have receivedloans from public sector banks, Regional RuralBanks (RRBs) and cooperative banks over the lastfour years.

• The UPA Government has taken up the revivalof the rural cooperative banking system andrecapitalisation of RRBs to improve their lendingability.

• At the end of 2007, bank loan of over Rs. 20,000crore had been availed of by over 30 lakh self helpgroups, which enabled an estimated over four crorepoor households to gain micro-finance from thebanks. In the last four years, the number of self helpgroups has tripled and credit availed by them hasgone up more than fivefold. Women in these groupshave been provided life insurance cover underJanashree Bima Yojana.

4.3.7 Package for suicide-prone districts

• A special package including measures relatingto credit, irrigation, agricultural inputs and alternativesources of income, amounting to more than Rs.16,000 crore, is being implemented in 31 districtsworst affected by farmers’ suicides.

• The entire interest on loans overdue as on 1.7.06has been waived, making the farmers eligible forfresh loan along with rescheduling of the loan withone-year moratorium.

• A special package for livestock and fisheries isalso being implemented.

4.3.8 Horticulture

The UPA Government has launched the NationalHorticulture Mission to promote holistic area-baseddevelopment of horticulture in 340 districts. An area

of 2,76,000 lakh hectares has been brought underhorticulture and another 56,000 hectares of oldplantations rejuvenated.

4.3.9 Plantation crops

• The UPA Government has set up a SpecialPurpose Tea Fund for funding replanting andrejuvenation of old tea bushes for improving theage-profile of tea plantations, which will cover about85,000 hectares area in the 11th Plan. Under a revivalpackage, 33 tea gardens which were lying closed –affecting more than 30,000 workers – are beingreopened.

• A fund for coffee replanting has been set up.Restructuring of loans and interest relief has beengiven to coffee growers to mitigate problems arisingfrom the low prices of coffee. The UPA Governmenthas introduced weather / rainfall insurance with 50%Government subsidy for small coffee-growers.Further, the extent of insurance cover under thePersonal Accident Insurance Scheme has beenenhanced and the scheme extended to coverpermanent plantation growers as well, besidespermanent workers.

• Support for replanting on lines of tea and coffeehas also been earmarked for cardamom and rubberthis year.

• The UPA Government has approved cropinsurance scheme for tea, rubber, tobacco, ginger,turmeric, chil l i , pepper and cardamom.

4.3.10 Cotton

The UPA Government, through development ofmarket yards, modernisation of a thousand ginningand pressing factories and other measures takenunder the Technology Mission on Cotton, hassucceeded in facilitating increase of over 70% incotton production and over 35% increase inproductivity, besides reducing cotton imports andimproving cotton quality.

4.3.11 Oilseeds, pulses and maize

The UPA Government is pursuing expansion of theIntegrated Oilseeds, Oil palm, Pulses and Maize

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‘Make my scene green.’Development Programme through doubling ofproduction of certified seeds within a period of threeyears.

4.3.12 Sugarcane and sugar industry

• With the UPA Government’s one-time assistancepackage being adopted by state governments ofTamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, oldcane arrears were cleared and enhanced productionresulted in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

• To deal with excess production, the Governmenthas stepped in with a comprehensive strategy throughcreation of buffer stock, export assistance, extensionof moratorium on outstanding loans, interest reliefup to 12%, and mandatory 5% blending of ethanolwith petrol.

4.3.13 Bamboo

A National Bamboo Mission has been launched topromote holistic growth of the bamboo sector, andbring about improvement in productivity from twoto three tonnes per hectare to 18 tonnes per hectare.

4.3.14 Livestock

• The UPA Government has launched theLivestock Insurance Scheme in selected districts forproviding insurance cover for crossbred and high-yielding cattle and buffaloes, with 50% governmentsubsidy.

• Appearances of bird flu have been successfullycontrolled.

• The National Fisheries Development Board hasbeen set up to double annual production by 2012. Acomprehensive Marine Fishing Policy has beenadopted to have sustainable and responsible fisheriesand to exploit deep-sea fishery resources in India’sExclusive Economic Zone.

4.3.15 Research

The UPA Government has launched the NationalAgricultural Innovation Project for transfer ofresearch knowledge to the field and has set up KrishiVigyan Kendras in almost all rural districts.

4.3.16 Education

• The UPA Government has launched a schemefor development and strengthening of 34 stateagricultural universities, five deemed universitiesand three Central universities, and establishment ofthe Sher-e-Kashmir University of AgriculturalScience and Technology at Jammu.

• Special grant of Rs. 100 crore has been providedfor the Punjab Agricultural University, and grantsof Rs. 50 crore each to the Gobind Ballabh PantUniversity of Agriculture and Technology atPantnagar and Tamil Nadu Agricultural Universityat Coimbatore have been announced.

4.3.17 Extension

The UPA Government has launched the Scheme forSupport to State Extension Programmes for ExtensionReforms being implemented through AgricultureTechnology Management Agencies established atthe district level.

4.3.18 Fertilisers

The UPA Government has made wide-ranging effortsto meet surging demand through improvement inindigenous production capacity, long-term importarrangements and joint ventures abroad for production/ supply. Efforts are under way to improve efficiencyand reduce cost of production of urea by a completechangeover to gas as feedstock over the next threeto four years.

‘Make my scene green.’

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‘Make my scene green’Development Programme through doubling ofproduction of certified seeds within a period of threeyears.

4.3.12 Sugarcane and sugar industry

• With the UPA Government’s one-time assistancepackage being adopted by state governments ofTamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, oldcane arrears were cleared and enhanced productionresulted in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

• To deal with excess production, the Governmenthas stepped in with a comprehensive strategy throughcreation of buffer stock, export assistance, extensionof moratorium on outstanding loans, interest reliefup to 12%, and mandatory 5% blending of ethanolwith petrol.

4.3.13 Bamboo

A National Bamboo Mission has been launched topromote holistic growth of the bamboo sector, andbring about improvement in productivity from twoto three tonnes per hectare to 18 tonnes per hectare.

4.3.14 Livestock

• The UPA Government has launched theLivestock Insurance Scheme in selected districts forproviding insurance cover for crossbred and high-yielding cattle and buffaloes, with 50% governmentsubsidy.

• Appearances of bird flu have been successfullycontrolled.

• The National Fisheries Development Board hasbeen set up to double annual production by 2012. Acomprehensive Marine Fishing Policy has beenadopted to have sustainable and responsible fisheriesand to exploit deep-sea fishery resources in India’sExclusive Economic Zone.

4.3.15 Research

The UPA Government has launched the NationalAgricultural Innovation Project for transfer ofresearch knowledge to the field and has set up KrishiVigyan Kendras in almost all rural districts.

4.3.16 Education

• The UPA Government has launched a schemefor development and strengthening of 34 stateagricultural universities, five deemed universitiesand three Central universities, and establishment ofthe Sher-e-Kashmir University of AgriculturalScience and Technology at Jammu.

• Special grant of Rs. 100 crore has been providedfor the Punjab Agricultural University, and grantsof Rs. 50 crore each to the Gobind Ballabh PantUniversity of Agriculture and Technology atPantnagar and Tamil Nadu Agricultural Universityat Coimbatore have been announced.

4.3.17 Extension

The UPA Government has launched the Scheme forSupport to State Extension Programmes for ExtensionReforms being implemented through AgricultureTechnology Management Agencies established atthe district level.

4.3.18 Fertilisers

The UPA Government has made wide-ranging effortsto meet surging demand through improvement inindigenous production capacity, long-term importarrangements and joint ventures abroad for production/ supply. Efforts are under way to improve efficiencyand reduce cost of production of urea by a completechangeover to gas as feedstock over the next threeto four years.

‘Make my scene green’

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‘Partners in governance.’

Green Governance

The UPA Government has adopted a new NationalEnvironment Policy to mainstream environmentalconcerns in development activities and policiesacross relevant sectors. The policy embodies aparadigm shift in that it recognises that the mostsecure basis for conservation is to ensure that thepeople dependent on a particular resource obtainbetter livelihoods through conservation rather thanthrough degradation of such resource.

5.1 CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

The UPA Government has established the NationalTiger Conservation Authority to strengthen tigerconservation and has set up the Wildlife CrimeControl Bureau.

5.2 GREEN INDIA

The UPA Government has approved “Green India”,a programme for massively afforesting 60 lakhhectares of degraded forest land in the next ten years,beginning with work on 30 lakh hectares this year.For this purpose, introduction of legislation to setup a Compensatory Afforestation Fund and aCompensatory Afforestation Fund Management andPlanning Authority has been approved.

5.3 CLIMATE CHANGE

• The UPA Government has acted with urgencyon the issue of climate change and set up a PrimeMinister’s Council on Climate Change to plan andimplement appropriate strategies for mitigating andadapting to climate change. A comprehensiveNational Action Plan on Climate Change is underpreparation. India is willing to ensure that its percapita emissions shall at no time exceed the averageper capita emissions of developed countries.

• Under the Clean Development Mechanism, one-third of projects registered globally are from India,the highest for any country. These have the potentialof facilitating investments of over Rs. 71,000 crore.

5.4 WATER CONSERVATION

• Water conservation works are being taken upon a large scale under the National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Programme and the National Project forRepair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodiesused by farmers.

• The National Rainfed Area Authority has beenestablished to foster harvesting, conservation andsustainable and equitable use of rainwater and willimplement the Rainfed Area DevelopmentProgramme from this year.

• States have been encouraged to direct municipalbodies to make rainwater harvesting part of designapprovals by local bodies and a number of stateshave done work on rainwater harvesting and havetaken steps to amend municipal or building laws.

‘Partners in governance.’

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‘Partners in governance’

Green Governance

The UPA Government has adopted a new NationalEnvironment Policy to mainstream environmentalconcerns in development activities and policiesacross relevant sectors. The policy embodies aparadigm shift in that it recognises that the mostsecure basis for conservation is to ensure that thepeople dependent on a particular resource obtainbetter livelihoods through conservation rather thanthrough degradation of such resource.

5.1 CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

The UPA Government has established the NationalTiger Conservation Authority to strengthen tigerconservation and has set up the Wildlife CrimeControl Bureau.

5.2 GREEN INDIA

The UPA Government has approved “Green India”,a programme for massively afforesting 60 lakhhectares of degraded forest land in the next ten years,beginning with work on 30 lakh hectares this year.For this purpose, introduction of legislation to setup a Compensatory Afforestation Fund and aCompensatory Afforestation Fund Management andPlanning Authority has been approved.

5.3 CLIMATE CHANGE

• The UPA Government has acted with urgencyon the issue of climate change and set up a PrimeMinister’s Council on Climate Change to plan andimplement appropriate strategies for mitigating andadapting to climate change. A comprehensiveNational Action Plan on Climate Change is underpreparation. India is willing to ensure that its percapita emissions shall at no time exceed the averageper capita emissions of developed countries.

• Under the Clean Development Mechanism, one-third of projects registered globally are from India,the highest for any country. These have the potentialof facilitating investments of over Rs. 71,000 crore.

5.4 WATER CONSERVATION

• Water conservation works are being taken upon a large scale under the National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Programme and the National Project forRepair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodiesused by farmers.

• The National Rainfed Area Authority has beenestablished to foster harvesting, conservation andsustainable and equitable use of rainwater and willimplement the Rainfed Area DevelopmentProgramme from this year.

• States have been encouraged to direct municipalbodies to make rainwater harvesting part of designapprovals by local bodies and a number of stateshave done work on rainwater harvesting and havetaken steps to amend municipal or building laws.

‘Partners in governance’

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Governance & Civil Society

6.1 REFORMS

The UPA Government has effected and initiatedmajor reforms in administration and the justicesystem. Major successes have been achieved in theturnaround of the public sector, citizen empowermentthrough the right to information and a number of e-governance projects.

6.1.1 Administrative reforms

• The UPA Government has set up the SecondAdministrative Reforms Commission, which hasmade several recommendations for comprehensivereform of public administration in India. These arebeing examined for follow up.

• Comprehensive arrangements have been put inplace for improving accountability and competencyof IAS officers. New polices on mandating mid-career training, intensive review, performanceappraisals and promotions have been put in place.Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in PublicAdministration and Civil Service Day have beeninstituted.

• The UPA Government has successfully turnedaround public sector enterprises. It has given greatermanagerial and commercial autonomy to publicsector enterprises, including banks.

• The Sixth Central Pay Commission has submittedits report. This is expected to meet the legitimateexpectations of Government employees.

• The UPA Government brought forward thehistoric Right to Information Act for empoweringcitizens to know how the Government functions andto increase transparency in the functioning of thecentral, state and local governments, as well asrecipients of government grants. The Act has enabledcitizens to get justice and obtain redress of longpending grievances.

6.1.2 e-Governance

• The UPA Government has successfullyimplemented e-governance projects relating toincome tax, customs and excise, railway reservation,e-credit of India Post Monthly Income Scheme toinvestor’s account, dematerialization of NationalSavings Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra, etc.

• Under MCA21, all services related to theRegistrar of Companies are now accessible throughthe Internet.

• Facility for online submission of passportapplications has been introduced and introductionof e-passports is being initiated. Passport Seva Projecthas been approved so that all passports get issuedwithin three days of police verification by 2009.

• Schemes for computerising over 13,000 Districtand Subordinate Courts and all 646 consumer forumshave been launched.

• State-Wide Area Networks for providingbroadband connectivity at district, sub-divisionaland block headquarters are being commissionedacross States, beginning with the four State Networkscommissioned in early 2008.

• Establishment of over one lakh rural Internet-enabled Common Service Centres for delivery of e-governance services has commenced with the settingup of over 3,000 centres.

• Computers tools have been made available inten Indian languages.

6.1.3 Reform of the justice system

• The UPA Government initiated legislation thathas prohibited arrest of women after dark, mandatedjudicial inquiry in case of custodial death or rape,provided for release of long-detained under-trials,mandated DNA testing in rape case, required theestablishment of State Directorates of Prosecutionand introduced plea-bargaining.

• Over the last four years the approved strengthof judges in High Courts has been raised by 20%from 725 to 877. Approval has also been given toincrease the number of judges in the Supreme Courtfrom 25 and 30.

• Schemes for computerising over 13,000 Districtand Subordinate Courts and all 646 consumer forumshave been launched.

• The UPA Government has introduced legislationin Parliament to address the issues of witnessesturning hostile, rights of victims, unnecessary arrests,rights of arrested persons and victim compensation.

• The UPA Government has introduced legislationin Parliament for setting up the National JudicialCouncil for greater accountability and transparencyin the judiciary.

• The UPA Government has brought forward alegislation to establish Gram Nyayalayas to securespeedy and hassle-free justice at the doorstep throughpeople-friendly mobile local courts.

6.2 PANCHAYATI RAJ

The UPA Government has strengthened PanchayatiRaj through provision of untied funds to supportlocal area development planning, in addition toreorienting delivery systems to work throughpanchayats.

6.2.1 Round Table Conferences and centrality topanchayats in the development process

• The UPA Government held seven Round TableConferences with State Panchayati Raj Ministers tobuild a consensus, which enabled creation of State-specific roadmaps for devolution of funds and functions.

• Based on this, the 11th Plan has recognized thecentral role of Panchayats in planning andimplementation of critical programmes related torural service delivery and issued guidelinesinstitutionalizing planning through Panchayats bypreparation of village level plans that will beconsolidated into District Plans.

6.2.2 Backward Regions Grant Fund

The Backward Regions Grant Fund, with annualallocation of over Rs. 4,000 crore for 250 identifiedbackward districts, is being implemented throughPanchayats. In the last four years, an amount of Rs.8,000 crore has been released to the States underRashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana and the BackwardRegions Grant Fund. Decentralized district planninghas been adopted under the Backward Regions GrantFund Programme.

6.2.3 Reorienting delivery through Panchayats

• Panchayats have been given the central role inimplementation and monitoring of the National RuralEmployment Guarantee Programme. At least halfthe work is to be done by Gram Panchayats, usingfunds placed with them.

• Guidelines of the National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Programme, National Rural HealthMission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, National CookedMid-day Meal Programme, Accelerated Rural WaterSupply Programme and Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana have been reviewed to ensure centrality ofPanchayats in planning and implementation.

• The UPA Government requested the States toamend the rules in conformity with the PanchayatsExtension to Scheduled Areas Act for involvingGram Sabhas / Panchayats in mining and most Stateshaving Scheduled Areas have done so.

6.3 URBAN RENEWAL

6.3.1 Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban RenewalMission

The UPA Government has launched the JawaharlalNehru Urban Renewal Mission, the largest initiativefor urban development since independence. Projects

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Governance & Civil Society

6.1 REFORMS

The UPA Government has effected and initiatedmajor reforms in administration and the justicesystem. Major successes have been achieved in theturnaround of the public sector, citizen empowermentthrough the right to information and a number of e-governance projects.

6.1.1 Administrative reforms

• The UPA Government has set up the SecondAdministrative Reforms Commission, which hasmade several recommendations for comprehensivereform of public administration in India. These arebeing examined for follow up.

• Comprehensive arrangements have been put inplace for improving accountability and competencyof IAS officers. New polices on mandating mid-career training, intensive review, performanceappraisals and promotions have been put in place.Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in PublicAdministration and Civil Service Day have beeninstituted.

• The UPA Government has successfully turnedaround public sector enterprises. It has given greatermanagerial and commercial autonomy to publicsector enterprises, including banks.

• The Sixth Central Pay Commission has submittedits report. This is expected to meet the legitimateexpectations of Government employees.

• The UPA Government brought forward thehistoric Right to Information Act for empoweringcitizens to know how the Government functions andto increase transparency in the functioning of thecentral, state and local governments, as well asrecipients of government grants. The Act has enabledcitizens to get justice and obtain redress of longpending grievances.

6.1.2 e-Governance

• The UPA Government has successfullyimplemented e-governance projects relating toincome tax, customs and excise, railway reservation,e-credit of India Post Monthly Income Scheme toinvestor’s account, dematerialization of NationalSavings Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra, etc.

• Under MCA21, all services related to theRegistrar of Companies are now accessible throughthe Internet.

• Facility for online submission of passportapplications has been introduced and introductionof e-passports is being initiated. Passport Seva Projecthas been approved so that all passports get issuedwithin three days of police verification by 2009.

• Schemes for computerising over 13,000 Districtand Subordinate Courts and all 646 consumer forumshave been launched.

• State-Wide Area Networks for providingbroadband connectivity at district, sub-divisionaland block headquarters are being commissionedacross States, beginning with the four State Networkscommissioned in early 2008.

• Establishment of over one lakh rural Internet-enabled Common Service Centres for delivery of e-governance services has commenced with the settingup of over 3,000 centres.

• Computers tools have been made available inten Indian languages.

6.1.3 Reform of the justice system

• The UPA Government initiated legislation thathas prohibited arrest of women after dark, mandatedjudicial inquiry in case of custodial death or rape,provided for release of long-detained under-trials,mandated DNA testing in rape case, required theestablishment of State Directorates of Prosecutionand introduced plea-bargaining.

• Over the last four years the approved strengthof judges in High Courts has been raised by 20%from 725 to 877. Approval has also been given toincrease the number of judges in the Supreme Courtfrom 25 and 30.

• Schemes for computerising over 13,000 Districtand Subordinate Courts and all 646 consumer forumshave been launched.

• The UPA Government has introduced legislationin Parliament to address the issues of witnessesturning hostile, rights of victims, unnecessary arrests,rights of arrested persons and victim compensation.

• The UPA Government has introduced legislationin Parliament for setting up the National JudicialCouncil for greater accountability and transparencyin the judiciary.

• The UPA Government has brought forward alegislation to establish Gram Nyayalayas to securespeedy and hassle-free justice at the doorstep throughpeople-friendly mobile local courts.

6.2 PANCHAYATI RAJ

The UPA Government has strengthened PanchayatiRaj through provision of untied funds to supportlocal area development planning, in addition toreorienting delivery systems to work throughpanchayats.

6.2.1 Round Table Conferences and centrality topanchayats in the development process

• The UPA Government held seven Round TableConferences with State Panchayati Raj Ministers tobuild a consensus, which enabled creation of State-specific roadmaps for devolution of funds and functions.

• Based on this, the 11th Plan has recognized thecentral role of Panchayats in planning andimplementation of critical programmes related torural service delivery and issued guidelinesinstitutionalizing planning through Panchayats bypreparation of village level plans that will beconsolidated into District Plans.

6.2.2 Backward Regions Grant Fund

The Backward Regions Grant Fund, with annualallocation of over Rs. 4,000 crore for 250 identifiedbackward districts, is being implemented throughPanchayats. In the last four years, an amount of Rs.8,000 crore has been released to the States underRashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana and the BackwardRegions Grant Fund. Decentralized district planninghas been adopted under the Backward Regions GrantFund Programme.

6.2.3 Reorienting delivery through Panchayats

• Panchayats have been given the central role inimplementation and monitoring of the National RuralEmployment Guarantee Programme. At least halfthe work is to be done by Gram Panchayats, usingfunds placed with them.

• Guidelines of the National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Programme, National Rural HealthMission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, National CookedMid-day Meal Programme, Accelerated Rural WaterSupply Programme and Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana have been reviewed to ensure centrality ofPanchayats in planning and implementation.

• The UPA Government requested the States toamend the rules in conformity with the PanchayatsExtension to Scheduled Areas Act for involvingGram Sabhas / Panchayats in mining and most Stateshaving Scheduled Areas have done so.

6.3 URBAN RENEWAL

6.3.1 Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban RenewalMission

The UPA Government has launched the JawaharlalNehru Urban Renewal Mission, the largest initiativefor urban development since independence. Projects

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‘More smiles toa smiling land.’

worth over Rs. 30,000 crore are under implementationin 54 cities and more than ten lakh houses have beensanctioned for the urban poor by mid-April 2008.Emphasis has been laid on provision of basic servicesto the poor, including housing, water supply,sanitation, slum improvement, communitytoilets/bath, etc., so that there is improvement in thequality of life of ordinary people.

6.3.2 Pooled Finance Development Scheme

The UPA Government has launched a scheme forsetting up a Pooled Finance Development Fund toprovide credit enhancement to urban local bodiesfor accessing market borrowings through a state-level finance pool.

6.3.3 Metros and suburban rail services

• The Delhi Metro Project has been successfullyrolled out. The Government has sanctioned Phase-II of Delhi Metro and its extension to Gurgaon andNOIDA, as well as an express Metro link betweenthe New Delhi Railway Station and Indira GandhiInternational Airport.

• Work has commenced on the Bangalore MetroRail Project, approved at an estimated cost of Rs.6,395 crore and having a target timeframe of 2011for completion.

• The Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase-Iis targeted for completion in the 11th Plan and Phase-II has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs.5,300 crore.

6.3.4 Cantonments

The new Cantonment Act, 2006 has provided forgreater democratisation in the affairs of CantonmentBoards by introducing parity between elected andnon-elected members of the Board, giving specialinvitee status to local MP / MLA in Board meetingsand introducing reservation for scheduled castes,scheduled tribes and women. Elections under thenew Act are scheduled this year.

6.4 CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS

• The UPA Government has set up a newCommission on Centre-State Relations after threedecades. The Commission has commenced work.

• In order to collectively deliberate upon and arriveat a common understanding and strategies concerningcritical issues requiring coordinated action by theCentre and States, discussions with Chief Ministershave been held frequently in various forums.

• The fiscal health of the States has never beenbetter. As a result of the new scheme of tax devolutionunder the accepted recommendations of the EleventhFinance Commission, the share of States has risensharply from Rs. 65,784 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.1,78,765 crore this year. Central grants-in-aid toStates have also risen similarly from Rs. 47,320crore to Rs. 1,24,745 crore.

• Revision of royalty payable to States on coal,lignite and other minerals has led to increased mineralroyalties to States.

• A number of measures have been taken foralleviating the debt burden of States, like permissionto refinance institutional loans with cheaper marketborrowings or new institutional loans and cheapermarket borrowings for financing the loan componentof Normal Central Assistance, transfer of externalassistance loans to States on (cheaper) back-to-backbasis, and introduction of a scheme of debt relief forrescheduling all Central loans contracted till 31.3.04and outstanding as on 31.3.05 into fresh loanscarrying lower interest. Central loans of States havebeen consolidated to the extent of Rs. 1,10,000 crore.This has provided interest relief to States to theextent of over Rs. 12,000 crore over the past threefinancial years and debt waiver of over Rs. 13,285crore. Debt consolidation and waiver have facilitatedStates to achieve fiscal responsibility targets andhave also provided them an opportunity to concentrateon social sectors to make the growth process moreinclusive.

‘More smiles toa smiling land.’

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‘More smiles toa smiling land’

worth over Rs. 30,000 crore are under implementationin 54 cities and more than ten lakh houses have beensanctioned for the urban poor by mid-April 2008.Emphasis has been laid on provision of basic servicesto the poor, including housing, water supply,sanitation, slum improvement, communitytoilets/bath, etc., so that there is improvement in thequality of life of ordinary people.

6.3.2 Pooled Finance Development Scheme

The UPA Government has launched a scheme forsetting up a Pooled Finance Development Fund toprovide credit enhancement to urban local bodiesfor accessing market borrowings through a state-level finance pool.

6.3.3 Metros and suburban rail services

• The Delhi Metro Project has been successfullyrolled out. The Government has sanctioned Phase-II of Delhi Metro and its extension to Gurgaon andNOIDA, as well as an express Metro link betweenthe New Delhi Railway Station and Indira GandhiInternational Airport.

• Work has commenced on the Bangalore MetroRail Project, approved at an estimated cost of Rs.6,395 crore and having a target timeframe of 2011for completion.

• The Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase-Iis targeted for completion in the 11th Plan and Phase-II has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs.5,300 crore.

6.3.4 Cantonments

The new Cantonment Act, 2006 has provided forgreater democratisation in the affairs of CantonmentBoards by introducing parity between elected andnon-elected members of the Board, giving specialinvitee status to local MP / MLA in Board meetingsand introducing reservation for scheduled castes,scheduled tribes and women. Elections under thenew Act are scheduled this year.

6.4 CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS

• The UPA Government has set up a newCommission on Centre-State Relations after threedecades. The Commission has commenced work.

• In order to collectively deliberate upon and arriveat a common understanding and strategies concerningcritical issues requiring coordinated action by theCentre and States, discussions with Chief Ministershave been held frequently in various forums.

• The fiscal health of the States has never beenbetter. As a result of the new scheme of tax devolutionunder the accepted recommendations of the EleventhFinance Commission, the share of States has risensharply from Rs. 65,784 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.1,78,765 crore this year. Central grants-in-aid toStates have also risen similarly from Rs. 47,320crore to Rs. 1,24,745 crore.

• Revision of royalty payable to States on coal,lignite and other minerals has led to increased mineralroyalties to States.

• A number of measures have been taken foralleviating the debt burden of States, like permissionto refinance institutional loans with cheaper marketborrowings or new institutional loans and cheapermarket borrowings for financing the loan componentof Normal Central Assistance, transfer of externalassistance loans to States on (cheaper) back-to-backbasis, and introduction of a scheme of debt relief forrescheduling all Central loans contracted till 31.3.04and outstanding as on 31.3.05 into fresh loanscarrying lower interest. Central loans of States havebeen consolidated to the extent of Rs. 1,10,000 crore.This has provided interest relief to States to theextent of over Rs. 12,000 crore over the past threefinancial years and debt waiver of over Rs. 13,285crore. Debt consolidation and waiver have facilitatedStates to achieve fiscal responsibility targets andhave also provided them an opportunity to concentrateon social sectors to make the growth process moreinclusive.

‘More smiles toa smiling land’

30

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Enabling Development

7.1 THE NORTHEAST

7.1.1 Securing peace

• The UPA Government has appealed to militantgroups to give up violence and to come forward fortalks without conditions. A number of outfits havesuspended operations and engaged in dialogue, whichhas contributed to relieving the sense of alienationamong some of our people.

• A large number of people from the Bru/Reangtribe have returned to Mizoram and been rehabilitated.

• Diplomatic initiatives have been taken withBangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan for tacklinginsurgent outfit operations.

• Special focus has been given to completing theborder fence and roads along the Indo-Bangladeshborder.

• The UPA Government has improved the schemefor surrender and rehabilitation of militants in theNortheast.

• In order to create employment opportunities andwean youth away from the path of violence, 20% ofvacancies of constables in Border Guarding Forceshave been allotted to areas affected by militancy,including the Northeast.

• Special Central Assistance is being provided formodernisation of State police forces and, under therevised Scheme, all seven States in the Northeast havebeen made eligible for 100% central funding.

7.1.2 Roads

• The UPA Government has approved a SpecialAccelerated Road Development Programme for theNortheast to improve about 8,737 km of roads. PhaseA of the project, involving work on 2,304 km of roads,has been approved and works are in progress.

• Work on the East-West Corridor under theNational Highway Development Programme is alsounder way.

• An 1,840-km long two-lane Trans-Arunachal

Pradesh Higwhay will be constructed across the lengthof the State and Itanagar will be connected with afour-lane highway.

• The norms of coverage of villages under PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been revised toensure coverage to hundreds of additional habitationsin the Northeast.

7.1.3 Railways

• The UPA Government has taken up electrificationof the remaining 800 km Barauni-Katihar-Guwahatisection on the mainline leading to Guwahati,construction of the rail-cum-road bridge overBrahmaputra River at Bogibeel, gauge conversion ofthe Lumding-Silchar and Rangia-Murkongselek lines,and construction of the Kumarghat-Agartala-Sabroom,Jiribam-Tupul (Imphal Road), Bhairabhi-Sairang(Aizawl) and Itanagar-Haruti new railway lines toprovide better connectivity for the State capitals ofAssam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram andArunachal Pradesh, besides opening up the possibilityof a rail link at a later date to Chittagong Port fromSabroom.

• To strengthen rail linkages in the region and withSouth East Asian neighbours, the Government hassigned the Inter-Governmental Agreement on theTrans-Asian Railway.

7.1.4 Airports

• The North Eastern Council has been collaboratingwith the Airports Authority of India to upgrade 18airports in the North Eastern Region. Greenfieldairports will be built in Assam and at Itanagar inArunachal Pradesh.

• The North Eastern Council has taken the initiativeto establish a dedicated airline for the region. Severalschemes for development of airports in the regionhave been taken up at Agartala, Barapani, Dibrugarh,Dimapur, Guwahati, Silchar, Imphal, Jorhat and Rupsi. Five civil airports will be made operational and fivedefence airstrips upgraded in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Helicopter services in the Northeast have beenexpanded in terms of capacity, frequency anddestinations.

7.1.5. Inland waterways

The UPA Government has introduced a bill inParliament for declaring the Lakhipur-Bhanga stretchalong the Barak River as a national waterway, whichwill improve connectivity of major commercialcentres like Lakhipur, Silchar and Badarpur in theBarak valley with the major ports of Haldia andKolkata.

7.1.6 Power

• The Prime Minister has laid the foundation stonesfor the 3,000 MW Dibang multipurpose project –the country’s largest hydroelectric project – and the110 MW Pare hydroelectric power project inArunachal Pradesh this year.

• Earlier, the UPA Government approved the 600MW Kameng hydroelectric power project in theState and resumed work on the 2,000 MW SubansiriLower hydroelectric power project.

• The NTPC is working towards starting a 500MW thermal power plant at Salakati in Assam by2009.

• The Prime Minister has laid the foundation of a

750 MW gas-based thermal power plant in Tripura.

• Villages are being electrified under Rajiv GandhiGrameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.

• A programme for electrification of all householdsin Arunachal Pradesh has been announced.

7.1.7 Industrial promotion

• The UPA Government has notified a more liberalnew industrial and investment promotion policy forthe Northeast, which has doubled capital subsidyand covered Sikkim as well.

• Work on the Assam Gas Cracker Project hasstarted and will further contribute to the industrialdevelopment of the region through many moredownstream polymer/plastic processing units,generating employment.

7.1.8 Earmarked expenditure in the Northeast

The UPA Government has progressively raised totalbudget allocation for the Northeast. It has increasedthree-fold over the past five budgets to Rs. 16,447crore.

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Enabling Development

7.1 THE NORTHEAST

7.1.1 Securing peace

• The UPA Government has appealed to militantgroups to give up violence and to come forward fortalks without conditions. A number of outfits havesuspended operations and engaged in dialogue, whichhas contributed to relieving the sense of alienationamong some of our people.

• A large number of people from the Bru/Reangtribe have returned to Mizoram and been rehabilitated.

• Diplomatic initiatives have been taken withBangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan for tacklinginsurgent outfit operations.

• Special focus has been given to completing theborder fence and roads along the Indo-Bangladeshborder.

• The UPA Government has improved the schemefor surrender and rehabilitation of militants in theNortheast.

• In order to create employment opportunities andwean youth away from the path of violence, 20% ofvacancies of constables in Border Guarding Forceshave been allotted to areas affected by militancy,including the Northeast.

• Special Central Assistance is being provided formodernisation of State police forces and, under therevised Scheme, all seven States in the Northeast havebeen made eligible for 100% central funding.

7.1.2 Roads

• The UPA Government has approved a SpecialAccelerated Road Development Programme for theNortheast to improve about 8,737 km of roads. PhaseA of the project, involving work on 2,304 km of roads,has been approved and works are in progress.

• Work on the East-West Corridor under theNational Highway Development Programme is alsounder way.

• An 1,840-km long two-lane Trans-Arunachal

Pradesh Higwhay will be constructed across the lengthof the State and Itanagar will be connected with afour-lane highway.

• The norms of coverage of villages under PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been revised toensure coverage to hundreds of additional habitationsin the Northeast.

7.1.3 Railways

• The UPA Government has taken up electrificationof the remaining 800 km Barauni-Katihar-Guwahatisection on the mainline leading to Guwahati,construction of the rail-cum-road bridge overBrahmaputra River at Bogibeel, gauge conversion ofthe Lumding-Silchar and Rangia-Murkongselek lines,and construction of the Kumarghat-Agartala-Sabroom,Jiribam-Tupul (Imphal Road), Bhairabhi-Sairang(Aizawl) and Itanagar-Haruti new railway lines toprovide better connectivity for the State capitals ofAssam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram andArunachal Pradesh, besides opening up the possibilityof a rail link at a later date to Chittagong Port fromSabroom.

• To strengthen rail linkages in the region and withSouth East Asian neighbours, the Government hassigned the Inter-Governmental Agreement on theTrans-Asian Railway.

7.1.4 Airports

• The North Eastern Council has been collaboratingwith the Airports Authority of India to upgrade 18airports in the North Eastern Region. Greenfieldairports will be built in Assam and at Itanagar inArunachal Pradesh.

• The North Eastern Council has taken the initiativeto establish a dedicated airline for the region. Severalschemes for development of airports in the regionhave been taken up at Agartala, Barapani, Dibrugarh,Dimapur, Guwahati, Silchar, Imphal, Jorhat and Rupsi. Five civil airports will be made operational and fivedefence airstrips upgraded in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Helicopter services in the Northeast have beenexpanded in terms of capacity, frequency anddestinations.

7.1.5. Inland waterways

The UPA Government has introduced a bill inParliament for declaring the Lakhipur-Bhanga stretchalong the Barak River as a national waterway, whichwill improve connectivity of major commercialcentres like Lakhipur, Silchar and Badarpur in theBarak valley with the major ports of Haldia andKolkata.

7.1.6 Power

• The Prime Minister has laid the foundation stonesfor the 3,000 MW Dibang multipurpose project –the country’s largest hydroelectric project – and the110 MW Pare hydroelectric power project inArunachal Pradesh this year.

• Earlier, the UPA Government approved the 600MW Kameng hydroelectric power project in theState and resumed work on the 2,000 MW SubansiriLower hydroelectric power project.

• The NTPC is working towards starting a 500MW thermal power plant at Salakati in Assam by2009.

• The Prime Minister has laid the foundation of a

750 MW gas-based thermal power plant in Tripura.

• Villages are being electrified under Rajiv GandhiGrameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.

• A programme for electrification of all householdsin Arunachal Pradesh has been announced.

7.1.7 Industrial promotion

• The UPA Government has notified a more liberalnew industrial and investment promotion policy forthe Northeast, which has doubled capital subsidyand covered Sikkim as well.

• Work on the Assam Gas Cracker Project hasstarted and will further contribute to the industrialdevelopment of the region through many moredownstream polymer/plastic processing units,generating employment.

7.1.8 Earmarked expenditure in the Northeast

The UPA Government has progressively raised totalbudget allocation for the Northeast. It has increasedthree-fold over the past five budgets to Rs. 16,447crore.

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7.1.9 Health

• The UPA Government has kept all States in theNortheast as special focus States under the NationalRural Health Mission. Keeping in mind capacitybuilding needs, the North Eastern Regional ResourceCentre has been set up.

• NEIGRIHMS, Shillong has been madeoperational as a 365-bed hospital and approval hasbeen obtained for starting a medical college in theInstitute.

• With a view to create centres of excellence inthe field of medical education and services, the threeinstitutes handled earlier by the North East Council,viz., LGBRJMH Tezpur, RIMS Imphal and RIPANSAizwal have been taken over by the Health Ministry.

7.1.10 Education

• The UPA Government has given North-easternStates 90% assistance under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan,compared to 65% for other States.

• The state universities in Manipur, ArunachalPradesh and Tripura have been converted into centraluniversities and the setting up of a central universityin Sikkim undertaken to accelerate development ofthe converted universities and ensure a centraluniversity in each Northeastern State.

• An Indian Institute of Management has been setup at Shillong.

• The UPA Government also undertook settingup of a Central Institute of Technology at Kokrajharand a National Institute of Technology in Tripura.

• In order to address problems faced by studentsand working women from the Northeast while livingin the national capital, a 500-seat girls’ hostel in theDelhi University and a 500-seat hostel for workingwomen were taken up.

7.1.11 Urban renewal

Cities and towns in the Northeast are being providedup to 90% central grant for projects under theJawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

7.1.12 Bamboo

North-eastern states have been accorded priorityunder the National Bamboo Mission.

7.1.13 Incentive package for members of All IndiaServices

In order to address the hardships faced by membersof the All India Services serving in the Northeastand to motivate and encourage serving in the region,the UPA Government has put in place an incentivepackage.

‘Taking a bigleap forward.’

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7.1.9 Health

• The UPA Government has kept all States in theNortheast as special focus States under the NationalRural Health Mission. Keeping in mind capacitybuilding needs, the North Eastern Regional ResourceCentre has been set up.

• NEIGRIHMS, Shillong has been madeoperational as a 365-bed hospital and approval hasbeen obtained for starting a medical college in theInstitute.

• With a view to create centres of excellence inthe field of medical education and services, the threeinstitutes handled earlier by the North East Council,viz., LGBRJMH Tezpur, RIMS Imphal and RIPANSAizwal have been taken over by the Health Ministry.

7.1.10 Education

• The UPA Government has given North-easternStates 90% assistance under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan,compared to 65% for other States.

• The state universities in Manipur, ArunachalPradesh and Tripura have been converted into centraluniversities and the setting up of a central universityin Sikkim undertaken to accelerate development ofthe converted universities and ensure a centraluniversity in each Northeastern State.

• An Indian Institute of Management has been setup at Shillong.

• The UPA Government also undertook settingup of a Central Institute of Technology at Kokrajharand a National Institute of Technology in Tripura.

• In order to address problems faced by studentsand working women from the Northeast while livingin the national capital, a 500-seat girls’ hostel in theDelhi University and a 500-seat hostel for workingwomen were taken up.

7.1.11 Urban renewal

Cities and towns in the Northeast are being providedup to 90% central grant for projects under theJawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

7.1.12 Bamboo

North-eastern states have been accorded priorityunder the National Bamboo Mission.

7.1.13 Incentive package for members of All IndiaServices

In order to address the hardships faced by membersof the All India Services serving in the Northeastand to motivate and encourage serving in the region,the UPA Government has put in place an incentivepackage.

‘Taking a bigleap forward’

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7.2 JAMMU & KASHMIR

A perceptible improvement in the overall situationin Jammu & Kashmir is noticeable. The Governmentis firmly committed and determined to counter thechallenge posed by terrorists and violence sponsoredfrom across-the-border in the State and restoreenduring peace in the State. Towards this end, aholistic and multi-faceted strategy is being pursued.The Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, amountingto Rs. 24,000 crore, is being implemented vigorouslywith focus on improving connectivity andinfrastructure, including power, and generatingemployment. As part of this Plan, a Housing Projectfor Kashmiri Migrants is under implementation inthe State. The UPA Government has held a seriesof Round Table Conferences with all segments ofpopulation in Jammu and Kashmir. Thesedeliberations reflect a wide-ranging civic and politicalconsensus on political and developmental issues.The Government is working on a holistic approachaimed at confidence building amongst all sectionsof society, easier travel across the Line of Control,better governance and closer attention to theaspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.There has been appreciable improvement in the lawand order situation. The recommendations of thefive working groups have been endorsed by theRound Table Conference and specific measures arebeing taken by the Central and State Governmentsin follow up.

7.2.1 Power

• The 390 MW Dulhasti project has beencommissioned. Several others like the 240 MWUri-II project, the 120 MW Sewa-II project, and the450 MW Baglihar project are on fast-track. TheNimo Bazgo and Chutak hydroelectric projects(89 MW) for meeting the power needs of theLadakh region have been taken up. The 330 MWKishanganga project has been approved. All theseprojects will fully address the power requirementsof the State.

• For the short-term, power reform grant has beenprovided to the State.

• 998 micro-hydroelectric projects have beenset up.

• Rural electrification projects have beensanctioned or approved in principle for ten districtsand the remaining districts are also being taken up.

7.2.2 Roads

• The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road has been declareda national highway and upgrading work is on.

• An alternative route from Manali to Leh is beingdeveloped via Rohtang Pass.

• The construction of Mughal Road, the road toKatra (Vaishno Devi) as well as other roads takenup under the Reconstruction Plan is in full swing.

7.2.3 Aviation

• Srinagar Airport has been declared as aninternational airport and its infrastructure upgraded.

• The frequency of flights between Kargil andSrinagar has been increased.

• Improvements are being carried out at the Jammuand Leh airports.

7.2.4 Urban infrastructure

• ADB infrastructure project covering watersupply, drainage and sewerage in Srinagar andJammu has been approved and works havecommenced.

• Substantial grants have been provided to theLadakh Autonomous Hill Development Councilsfor Leh and Kargil for taking up a number ofinfrastructure projects.

• Urban areas in the State are being provided upto 90% Central grants for projects under theJawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

7.2.5 Railways

• The Jammu-Udhampur section has been openedand the Udhampur-Katra section is set for openingin 2008. Work on Katra-Qazigund-Badgam sectionsis on.

• Doubling of the Jammu Tawi - Jallandhar railwayline is set for completion in 2008.

7.2.6 Education and health

• Establishment of Sher-e-Kashmir University ofAgricultural Science and Technology has beenprovided for.

• 15 new colleges and nine new Industrial TrainingInstitutes have become operational. Decision hasbeen taken to set up 10 more colleges and 5 newITIs.

• Total Literacy Campaign has been extended toall the districts.

• 8,317 anganwadi centres have been sanctionedto ensure one centre in each habitation as perpopulation norms and over 7,500 of these havebecome functional.

• The State has been covered as a special focusstate under the National Rural Health Mission.

• The medical colleges at Jammu and Srinagar arebeing raised to AIIMS standards.

• Substantial assistance has been provided forimprovement of hospitals and health centres at thedistrict and sub-district levels.

7.2.7 Employment and income generation

• Around 20,000 jobs have been directly createdunder the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Planthrough anganwadis, India Reserve and centralparamilitary force battalions and IT training.

• Substantial self-employment and incomegeneration has been facilitated through wide-rangingsupport to the tourism and handicrafts industries,Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, agriculture,etc.

• The UPA Government has extended the taxholiday available to undertakings in the State till2012.

• Financial assistance has been approved for ten

Tourism Development Authorities, 11 tourismvillages and four tourist circuits, and work onconservation of the Dal Lake has commenced.

7.2.8 Relief and rehabilitation

• To give concrete shape to the recommendationsof the Round Table Conference, the Prime Ministerhas announced a series of confidence buildingmeasures addressing various sections of society,including a package for providing assistance to allchildren orphaned due to militancy related violenceover the last 18 years, as well as alternative relief tothose who could not be provided compassionateemployment despite eligibility. Kashmiri migrantfamilies opting to return to the Valley will be providedgrant of Rs. 7.5 lakh for homes and grants forrestoration of agricultural holdings and orchards,while continuing monthly relief provided to thoseliving in camps and also providing assistance forchildren’s education. The State Government hasproposed to provide 6,000 Government jobs for theeducated among the migrant youth. A set of measuresaddressing refugees of 1947 from West Pakistan andPoK as well as those whose lands have been usedfor construction of border works has also beenannounced.

• Two-room dwelling units have been approvedfor over 5,000 Kashmiri migrants living in campsin Jammu and work is in full swing, besides dwellingunits taken up in the valley.

• The level of assistance and coverage for themigrants at Jammu and Delhi has been enhanced.Identity cards have been issued to thousands ofmigrants at Delhi who did not have these earlier, sothat they may avail of various benefits.

• Over 6,000 families of border migrants ofAkhnoor Tahsil are being rehabilitated under apackage. The outlay of the Rehabilitation Councilhas been enhanced.

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7.2 JAMMU & KASHMIR

A perceptible improvement in the overall situationin Jammu & Kashmir is noticeable. The Governmentis firmly committed and determined to counter thechallenge posed by terrorists and violence sponsoredfrom across-the-border in the State and restoreenduring peace in the State. Towards this end, aholistic and multi-faceted strategy is being pursued.The Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, amountingto Rs. 24,000 crore, is being implemented vigorouslywith focus on improving connectivity andinfrastructure, including power, and generatingemployment. As part of this Plan, a Housing Projectfor Kashmiri Migrants is under implementation inthe State. The UPA Government has held a seriesof Round Table Conferences with all segments ofpopulation in Jammu and Kashmir. Thesedeliberations reflect a wide-ranging civic and politicalconsensus on political and developmental issues.The Government is working on a holistic approachaimed at confidence building amongst all sectionsof society, easier travel across the Line of Control,better governance and closer attention to theaspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.There has been appreciable improvement in the lawand order situation. The recommendations of thefive working groups have been endorsed by theRound Table Conference and specific measures arebeing taken by the Central and State Governmentsin follow up.

7.2.1 Power

• The 390 MW Dulhasti project has beencommissioned. Several others like the 240 MWUri-II project, the 120 MW Sewa-II project, and the450 MW Baglihar project are on fast-track. TheNimo Bazgo and Chutak hydroelectric projects(89 MW) for meeting the power needs of theLadakh region have been taken up. The 330 MWKishanganga project has been approved. All theseprojects will fully address the power requirementsof the State.

• For the short-term, power reform grant has beenprovided to the State.

• 998 micro-hydroelectric projects have beenset up.

• Rural electrification projects have beensanctioned or approved in principle for ten districtsand the remaining districts are also being taken up.

7.2.2 Roads

• The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road has been declareda national highway and upgrading work is on.

• An alternative route from Manali to Leh is beingdeveloped via Rohtang Pass.

• The construction of Mughal Road, the road toKatra (Vaishno Devi) as well as other roads takenup under the Reconstruction Plan is in full swing.

7.2.3 Aviation

• Srinagar Airport has been declared as aninternational airport and its infrastructure upgraded.

• The frequency of flights between Kargil andSrinagar has been increased.

• Improvements are being carried out at the Jammuand Leh airports.

7.2.4 Urban infrastructure

• ADB infrastructure project covering watersupply, drainage and sewerage in Srinagar andJammu has been approved and works havecommenced.

• Substantial grants have been provided to theLadakh Autonomous Hill Development Councilsfor Leh and Kargil for taking up a number ofinfrastructure projects.

• Urban areas in the State are being provided upto 90% Central grants for projects under theJawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

7.2.5 Railways

• The Jammu-Udhampur section has been openedand the Udhampur-Katra section is set for openingin 2008. Work on Katra-Qazigund-Badgam sectionsis on.

• Doubling of the Jammu Tawi - Jallandhar railwayline is set for completion in 2008.

7.2.6 Education and health

• Establishment of Sher-e-Kashmir University ofAgricultural Science and Technology has beenprovided for.

• 15 new colleges and nine new Industrial TrainingInstitutes have become operational. Decision hasbeen taken to set up 10 more colleges and 5 newITIs.

• Total Literacy Campaign has been extended toall the districts.

• 8,317 anganwadi centres have been sanctionedto ensure one centre in each habitation as perpopulation norms and over 7,500 of these havebecome functional.

• The State has been covered as a special focusstate under the National Rural Health Mission.

• The medical colleges at Jammu and Srinagar arebeing raised to AIIMS standards.

• Substantial assistance has been provided forimprovement of hospitals and health centres at thedistrict and sub-district levels.

7.2.7 Employment and income generation

• Around 20,000 jobs have been directly createdunder the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Planthrough anganwadis, India Reserve and centralparamilitary force battalions and IT training.

• Substantial self-employment and incomegeneration has been facilitated through wide-rangingsupport to the tourism and handicrafts industries,Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, agriculture,etc.

• The UPA Government has extended the taxholiday available to undertakings in the State till2012.

• Financial assistance has been approved for ten

Tourism Development Authorities, 11 tourismvillages and four tourist circuits, and work onconservation of the Dal Lake has commenced.

7.2.8 Relief and rehabilitation

• To give concrete shape to the recommendationsof the Round Table Conference, the Prime Ministerhas announced a series of confidence buildingmeasures addressing various sections of society,including a package for providing assistance to allchildren orphaned due to militancy related violenceover the last 18 years, as well as alternative relief tothose who could not be provided compassionateemployment despite eligibility. Kashmiri migrantfamilies opting to return to the Valley will be providedgrant of Rs. 7.5 lakh for homes and grants forrestoration of agricultural holdings and orchards,while continuing monthly relief provided to thoseliving in camps and also providing assistance forchildren’s education. The State Government hasproposed to provide 6,000 Government jobs for theeducated among the migrant youth. A set of measuresaddressing refugees of 1947 from West Pakistan andPoK as well as those whose lands have been usedfor construction of border works has also beenannounced.

• Two-room dwelling units have been approvedfor over 5,000 Kashmiri migrants living in campsin Jammu and work is in full swing, besides dwellingunits taken up in the valley.

• The level of assistance and coverage for themigrants at Jammu and Delhi has been enhanced.Identity cards have been issued to thousands ofmigrants at Delhi who did not have these earlier, sothat they may avail of various benefits.

• Over 6,000 families of border migrants ofAkhnoor Tahsil are being rehabilitated under apackage. The outlay of the Rehabilitation Councilhas been enhanced.

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‘Forging ahead’

8.1 INDUSTRIAL GROWTH, INVESTMENTAND FINANCIAL MARKETS

Today, it is possible to abolish poverty in the life ofa single generation. If the economy grows at the rateof nine to ten per cent per annum, then the nationalincome will double in about seven to eight years. Ifalong with growth promotion strategies programmesare in place for improving the educational status ofchildren and the health status of the people, thenthere will be a definite positive impact on poverty.The UPA Government has worked to make thisdream of abolition of poverty a reality. In terms ofgrowth the performance in the last four years hasbeen the best in thehistory of independentIndia. The economy hasmoved decisively to ahigher growth phase ofalmost 9% over the pastfour years. The rate ofgrowth of per capitaincome has almostdoubled to over 7%.The 11th Plan aims atan average growth rateof 9%.

The UPA Governmenthas taken a number offiscal and programmemeasures to improve thecompetitiveness ofIndian industry. Itss u c c e s s f u lm a c r o e c o n o m i cmanagement coupled with the policy initiatives havere-energised domestic enterprise to high levels ofgrowth despite high energy and commodity prices,although in recent months there has been somedownturn due to slowdown in the world economyand demand for our exports.

Simultaneously, the UPA Government has shownthat where there is a will the functioning of the publicsector system can be improved. It has ensured aturnaround in the performance of public sectorenterprises, which have shown a healthy growth.Revival packages have been approved for more than25 sick and loss-making companies, several of which

have been restored to profitability.

8.1.1 Public sector enterprises

• The UPA Government has achieved a turnaroundin the performance of public sector undertakings,with the performance improving consistently interms of total turnover and profitability. Theprofitability of public sector steel companies hasgone up threefold in three years to Rs. 15,567 crorein 2006-07.

• The Board for Reconstruction of Public SectorEnterprise was set up to advise the Government on

s t r e n g t h e n i n g ,modernizing, revivingand restructuring publicsector enterprises. TheB o a r d h a s g i v e nrecommendations inrespect of 50 centralpublic sector enterprisesa n d r e v i v a l /restructuring packageshave been approved for28 enterprises.

8.1.2 Manufacturing

• T h e U P AGovernment has set upt h e N a t i o n a lM a n u f a c t u r i n gC o m p e t i t i v e n e s sCouncil and the HighLevel Committee on

Manufacturing to ensure that all issues related to themanufacturing sector are resolved expeditiously.

• The competitive position of Indian industry,especially for sectors like steel and metallurgy,textile, automobile and auto-components,pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, petrochemicalsand cement, is stronger than ever before.

• The initiatives taken by the Government haveled to a robust growth in the manufacturing sectorduring the last four years, although moderateslowdown is being witnessed in the recent monthson account of global factors.

Economic Resurgence

‘Forging ahead’

39

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‘Forging ahead.’

8.1 INDUSTRIAL GROWTH, INVESTMENTAND FINANCIAL MARKETS

Today, it is possible to abolish poverty in the life ofa single generation. If the economy grows at the rateof nine to ten per cent per annum, then the nationalincome will double in about seven to eight years. Ifalong with growth promotion strategies programmesare in place for improving the educational status ofchildren and the health status of the people, thenthere will be a definite positive impact on poverty.The UPA Government has worked to make thisdream of abolition of poverty a reality. In terms ofgrowth the performance in the last four years hasbeen the best in thehistory of independentIndia. The economy hasmoved decisively to ahigher growth phase ofalmost 9% over the pastfour years. The rate ofgrowth of per capitaincome has almostdoubled to over 7%.The 11th Plan aims atan average growth rateof 9%.

The UPA Governmenthas taken a number offiscal and programmemeasures to improve thecompetitiveness ofIndian industry. Itss u c c e s s f u lm a c r o e c o n o m i cmanagement coupled with the policy initiatives havere-energised domestic enterprise to high levels ofgrowth despite high energy and commodity prices,although in recent months there has been somedownturn due to slowdown in the world economyand demand for our exports.

Simultaneously, the UPA Government has shownthat where there is a will the functioning of the publicsector system can be improved. It has ensured aturnaround in the performance of public sectorenterprises, which have shown a healthy growth.Revival packages have been approved for more than25 sick and loss-making companies, several of which

have been restored to profitability.

8.1.1 Public sector enterprises

• The UPA Government has achieved a turnaroundin the performance of public sector undertakings,with the performance improving consistently interms of total turnover and profitability. Theprofitability of public sector steel companies hasgone up threefold in three years to Rs. 15,567 crorein 2006-07.

• The Board for Reconstruction of Public SectorEnterprise was set up to advise the Government on

s t r e n g t h e n i n g ,modernizing, revivingand restructuring publicsector enterprises. TheB o a r d h a s g i v e nrecommendations inrespect of 50 centralpublic sector enterprisesa n d r e v i v a l /restructuring packageshave been approved for28 enterprises.

8.1.2 Manufacturing

• T h e U P AGovernment has set upt h e N a t i o n a lM a n u f a c t u r i n gC o m p e t i t i v e n e s sCouncil and the HighLevel Committee on

Manufacturing to ensure that all issues related to themanufacturing sector are resolved expeditiously.

• The competitive position of Indian industry,especially for sectors like steel and metallurgy,textile, automobile and auto-components,pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, petrochemicalsand cement, is stronger than ever before.

• The initiatives taken by the Government haveled to a robust growth in the manufacturing sectorduring the last four years, although moderateslowdown is being witnessed in the recent monthson account of global factors.

Economic Resurgence

‘Forging ahead.’

39

Page 46: UPA Achievements in India

8.1.3 Tax reform

• The UPA Government has shown in the last fouryears how tax revenues can become buoyant whilereducing tax rates, with gross tax revenues growingby 20% to 25% annually over the last four years andthe tax-GDP ratio rising from 9.2% in 2003-04 to12.5% in 2007-08.

• Substantial relief has been given in income tax,more so for women and senior citizens.

• Peak customs rate for non-agricultural productshas been progressively brought down from 25% in2004 to 10%.

• General rate of excise duty has been broughtdown to 14%.

• VAT has been introduced across States and hasproved to be an unqualified success.

• Central Sales Tax rate has been reduced from4% to 2%, with a commitment to progressively phaseit out by 2010.

• Effort is on with the States to introduce a nationallevel Goods and Services Tax with effect from 2010.

8.1.4 Corporate Affairs

• The e-governance project MCA21 has broughtsignificant change for businesses, shareholders andinvestors, professionals, banks and financialinstitutions, and employees by making all transactionsInternet enabled.

• A bill for enacting a new legislation that wouldenable the setting up of a new form of body corporate,viz., Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), is readyfor introduction in Parliament. It will provide anideal vehicle for the growth of professionals and theknowledge sector in an organised manner and providenew opportunities for the growth of the servicesector.

• To provide required education and createawareness among investors, investor awarenesscamps have been held and an Investor Educationand Protection Fund, a website registry of economic

defaulters indicted for economic offences, and aneffective website to redress investor grievances havebeen created.

8.1.5 Investment climate

• Total foreign institutional investment in the 3year period from April 2004 till December 2007 wasmore than 1 times that in the twelve precedingfinancial years taken together.

• FDI inflows have taken off with capital flowsreaching a high of over 5% of GDP.

• The globalisation of Indian enterprises andplanting of the seeds for the creation of the Indianmultinationals have taken place in the last few years.

8.1.6 Micro, small and medium enterprises

• The UPA Government initiated the Micro, Smalland Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006,which provides the first-ever legal frame for coveringservices along with manufacturing under the conceptof enterprises, progressive classification ofenterprises, statutory consultative mechanism,establishment of a fund for promotion anddevelopment of such enterprises, preference ingovernment procurement of products and servicesof such enterprises, effective mechanism formitigating problems of delayed payments, etc.

• To improve the competitiveness of the smallscale sector, the exemption limit for excise duty forthe SSI sector was raised from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 1.5crore.

• A major promotional package has taken measuresto address most of the concerns in the areas of credit,cluster-based development, technology upgrade,marketing, upgrade of infrastructure, etc.

• As a result of the credit policy for small andmedium enterprises announced in 2005, credit flowto the sector has increased greatly.

• A Credit Guarantee Fund has been set up toprovide relief to those micro and small entrepreneurswho are unable to pledge collateral security. Thecorpus of the Credit Guarantee Fund is being revised

from Rs. 1,132 crore in March 2006 to Rs. 2,500crore over a period of five years.

• Programmes for skill development are beingimparted to nearly 90,000 trainees each year, withfree training to SCs / STs.

• The Government has launched the Scheme ofFund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries(SFURTI), under which 124 clusters of khadi, villageand coir industry have been approved forcomprehensive development over five years.

• The Rejuvenation of Coir Sector andModernisation Programme for Coir Industry hasbeen approved.

8.1.7 Export-related industries

• By end-March 2008, the Special Economic Zonespromoted by Government have provided directemployment to over 180,000 persons, with indirectemployment estimated at twice as much. They haveattracted investment of over Rs. 67,000 crore, andgenerated exports of over Rs. 64,000 crore during2007-08.

• A humane and liberal rehabilitation policy hasbeen put in place to address concerns regardingpersons displaced.

8.1.8 Relief measures for exporters

There has been a significant impact on the exportdue to unprecedented appreciation of the Rupeeagainst the US$ over the past year. Considering theseriousness of the situation, the UPA Governmenthas taken a number of measures to provide relief tothe exporting community. The relief measures includeenhancement in the Duty Entitlement Pass Book /duty drawback rates, provision of interest subventionfor pre- and post-shipment credit, exemption/refundof service tax in respect of certain services, reductionin export credit guarantee premium, etc. The cost ofrelief given to exporters amounts to over Rs. 8,000crore.

8.1.9 IT software and services

• The IT software and services exports from India

grew more than threefold over the last four years,providing employment to an additional 12 lakheducated youth directly and another eight millionindirectly.

• Income Tax exemption available under theSoftware Technology Parks Scheme has beenextended till March 2010.

• A bill to amend the Information Technology Acthas been introduced to effect provisions that willassure overseas customers regarding adequacy ofdata protection laws.

• A number of initiatives have been taken in closeconcert with the industry for meeting human resourcerequirements, greater access to foreign markets, etc.A scheme has been approved for setting upInformation Technology Investment Regions.

8.1.10 Electronics, IT hardware and telecomequipment manufacturing

• The UPA Government has launched a SpecialIncentive Package Scheme to attract investments forsetting up semiconductor fabrication and other microand nanotechnology manufacturing enterprises inIndia. In response, proposals for investment to thetune of over Rs. 60,000 crore have been received.

• Several fiscal and other measures have beentaken to promote the electronics and IT hardwaresector, including approval of a scheme for settingup Information Technology Investment Regions andcorrection of instances of inverted duty structure.

• The growth potential and pro-active role of theGovernment has brought major telecom companiesinto the manufacturing space of the country.

8.1.11 Chemicals and petrochemicals

• A policy frame for development of petroleum,chemicals and petrochemicals investment regionsof global scale and level of facilities, with theinvolvement of world-class developers and investors,has been put in place.

• Both the chemicals manufacturing Central PSEshad been sick and stood referred to the BIFR for the

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8.1.3 Tax reform

• The UPA Government has shown in the last fouryears how tax revenues can become buoyant whilereducing tax rates, with gross tax revenues growingby 20% to 25% annually over the last four years andthe tax-GDP ratio rising from 9.2% in 2003-04 to12.5% in 2007-08.

• Substantial relief has been given in income tax,more so for women and senior citizens.

• Peak customs rate for non-agricultural productshas been progressively brought down from 25% in2004 to 10%.

• General rate of excise duty has been broughtdown to 14%.

• VAT has been introduced across States and hasproved to be an unqualified success.

• Central Sales Tax rate has been reduced from4% to 2%, with a commitment to progressively phaseit out by 2010.

• Effort is on with the States to introduce a nationallevel Goods and Services Tax with effect from 2010.

8.1.4 Corporate Affairs

• The e-governance project MCA21 has broughtsignificant change for businesses, shareholders andinvestors, professionals, banks and financialinstitutions, and employees by making all transactionsInternet enabled.

• A bill for enacting a new legislation that wouldenable the setting up of a new form of body corporate,viz., Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), is readyfor introduction in Parliament. It will provide anideal vehicle for the growth of professionals and theknowledge sector in an organised manner and providenew opportunities for the growth of the servicesector.

• To provide required education and createawareness among investors, investor awarenesscamps have been held and an Investor Educationand Protection Fund, a website registry of economic

defaulters indicted for economic offences, and aneffective website to redress investor grievances havebeen created.

8.1.5 Investment climate

• Total foreign institutional investment in the 3year period from April 2004 till December 2007 wasmore than 1 times that in the twelve precedingfinancial years taken together.

• FDI inflows have taken off with capital flowsreaching a high of over 5% of GDP.

• The globalisation of Indian enterprises andplanting of the seeds for the creation of the Indianmultinationals have taken place in the last few years.

8.1.6 Micro, small and medium enterprises

• The UPA Government initiated the Micro, Smalland Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006,which provides the first-ever legal frame for coveringservices along with manufacturing under the conceptof enterprises, progressive classification ofenterprises, statutory consultative mechanism,establishment of a fund for promotion anddevelopment of such enterprises, preference ingovernment procurement of products and servicesof such enterprises, effective mechanism formitigating problems of delayed payments, etc.

• To improve the competitiveness of the smallscale sector, the exemption limit for excise duty forthe SSI sector was raised from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 1.5crore.

• A major promotional package has taken measuresto address most of the concerns in the areas of credit,cluster-based development, technology upgrade,marketing, upgrade of infrastructure, etc.

• As a result of the credit policy for small andmedium enterprises announced in 2005, credit flowto the sector has increased greatly.

• A Credit Guarantee Fund has been set up toprovide relief to those micro and small entrepreneurswho are unable to pledge collateral security. Thecorpus of the Credit Guarantee Fund is being revised

from Rs. 1,132 crore in March 2006 to Rs. 2,500crore over a period of five years.

• Programmes for skill development are beingimparted to nearly 90,000 trainees each year, withfree training to SCs / STs.

• The Government has launched the Scheme ofFund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries(SFURTI), under which 124 clusters of khadi, villageand coir industry have been approved forcomprehensive development over five years.

• The Rejuvenation of Coir Sector andModernisation Programme for Coir Industry hasbeen approved.

8.1.7 Export-related industries

• By end-March 2008, the Special Economic Zonespromoted by Government have provided directemployment to over 180,000 persons, with indirectemployment estimated at twice as much. They haveattracted investment of over Rs. 67,000 crore, andgenerated exports of over Rs. 64,000 crore during2007-08.

• A humane and liberal rehabilitation policy hasbeen put in place to address concerns regardingpersons displaced.

8.1.8 Relief measures for exporters

There has been a significant impact on the exportdue to unprecedented appreciation of the Rupeeagainst the US$ over the past year. Considering theseriousness of the situation, the UPA Governmenthas taken a number of measures to provide relief tothe exporting community. The relief measures includeenhancement in the Duty Entitlement Pass Book /duty drawback rates, provision of interest subventionfor pre- and post-shipment credit, exemption/refundof service tax in respect of certain services, reductionin export credit guarantee premium, etc. The cost ofrelief given to exporters amounts to over Rs. 8,000crore.

8.1.9 IT software and services

• The IT software and services exports from India

grew more than threefold over the last four years,providing employment to an additional 12 lakheducated youth directly and another eight millionindirectly.

• Income Tax exemption available under theSoftware Technology Parks Scheme has beenextended till March 2010.

• A bill to amend the Information Technology Acthas been introduced to effect provisions that willassure overseas customers regarding adequacy ofdata protection laws.

• A number of initiatives have been taken in closeconcert with the industry for meeting human resourcerequirements, greater access to foreign markets, etc.A scheme has been approved for setting upInformation Technology Investment Regions.

8.1.10 Electronics, IT hardware and telecomequipment manufacturing

• The UPA Government has launched a SpecialIncentive Package Scheme to attract investments forsetting up semiconductor fabrication and other microand nanotechnology manufacturing enterprises inIndia. In response, proposals for investment to thetune of over Rs. 60,000 crore have been received.

• Several fiscal and other measures have beentaken to promote the electronics and IT hardwaresector, including approval of a scheme for settingup Information Technology Investment Regions andcorrection of instances of inverted duty structure.

• The growth potential and pro-active role of theGovernment has brought major telecom companiesinto the manufacturing space of the country.

8.1.11 Chemicals and petrochemicals

• A policy frame for development of petroleum,chemicals and petrochemicals investment regionsof global scale and level of facilities, with theinvolvement of world-class developers and investors,has been put in place.

• Both the chemicals manufacturing Central PSEshad been sick and stood referred to the BIFR for the

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last 10 to 20 years. The UPA Government had takenup their revival in mission mode and revival packageshave been approved for Hindustan OrganicChemicals Ltd. and Hindustan Insecticide Ltd.,involving cash infusion as well as waivers amountingto several hundred crore rupees.

8.1.12 Mining

• A new mineral policy, which will greatly expandthe investment and employment opportunities inmining, has been adopted. This will result in theimprovement of procedures for granting mininglicences, particularly ensuring a smooth transitionfrom exploration licence to prospecting and mininglicences.

• The Geological Survey of India is beingmodernised and technologically upgraded to enhanceits capabilities for mineral exploration on land andoff-shore.

• NALCO will complete a major capacityenhancement this year. The financial performanceof NALCO, Hindustan Copper Ltd. and MineralExploration Corporation Ltd. have improvedsignificantly over the last four years.

8.1.13 Steel

The profitability of public sector steel companieshas gone up substantially, energizing Steel Authorityof India Ltd. to go in for major expansion plans.India is now the 5th largest steel producing nationin the world as against its 8th rank in the year 2005and is set to become the 2nd largest steel producerin the world by the year 2015. The National SteelPolicy was launched in 2005. The projections of 110million tonnes of steel production envisaged in theNational Steel Policy are now expected to besurpassed by 2011-12.

8.1.14 Food processing industries

• The UPA Government initiated the Food Safetyand Standards Act, 2006, to provide an integratedlaw relating to food and for systematic and scientificdevelopment of food processing industries based onself-compliance. Earlier, thirteen different lawsaffected food and food processing industries.

• The UPA Government provided a five-yearIncome Tax holiday and other concessions for newindustries set up to process, preserve and packagefruits and vegetables.

• Food processing has been covered under prioritysector lending with refinancing through NABARD.

• Excise and customs duty exemptions and relieveshave been given in respect of several items in thefood processing sector.

• To achieve the objectives of tripling the size ofthe processed food sector by 2015, and doubling itsshare in global trade, 30 Mega Food Parks and anIntegrated Cold Chain will be set up in the 11th Plan.

• A National Institute of Food TechnologyEntrepreneurship and Management is being set upat Kundli as a knowledge institution for the sector.

8.1.15 Textiles

• A major package, including tax relief, wasprovided. The duty structure has been rationalisedto achieve growth and maximum value additionwithin the country. Except for man-made filamentyarns and staple fibres, the whole value additionchain has been given an option of excise exemption.Basic customs duty on machinery and spares hasbeen reduced, additional capital subsidy provided,duties on machinery, raw materials and sparesbrought down, and excise duty on polyester filamentyarn reduced.

• The scope and outlays of schemes like theTechnology Upgradation Fund Scheme and theTechnology Mission on Cotton have been augmentedto modernise the industry and to ensure availabilityof quality raw material at competitive prices. As aresult of introduction of an additional credit linkedcapital subsidy of 10%, investment through theTechnology Upgradation Fund Scheme has gone upfrom around Rs.1,300 crore in 2003-04 to aroundRs. 20,000 crore in 2006-07. Under the TechnologyMission on Cotton, incentives for better farmpractices, quality seeds, improvement in marketinfrastructure and modernisation of ginning andpressing have resulted in cotton production andproductivity touching record highs.

• The Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks hasbeen launched to strengthen infrastructure. Underthe scheme, it is proposed to set up 40 IntegratedTextiles Parks. In the 2008-09 Budget, six centresfor development as mega clusters in handloom,handicraft and power loom sectors have beenidentified for scaling up infrastructure and productionbase.

• A Technology Mission on Textiles will beimplemented in the 11th Plan. Four centres ofexcellence will be set up in key segments likemeditech, geotech, agritech and buildtech. TheNational Institute of Fashion Technology has beenempowered to award degrees.

8.1.16 Handlooms and handicrafts

• A focused approach to helping weavers is inplace with an increase in the number of clusterdevelopment centres, more yarn depots, support totechnology upgrade, health and life insurance coverfor weavers, and a new “Handloom Mark” forbranding promotion.

• 250 handloom clusters of over 5,000 handloomshave been taken up under the Integrated HandloomDevelopment Scheme.

• The Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojanahas been launched to provide health insurancecoverage to artisans and their families and will cover40 lakh artisans during the 11th Plan.

• The Handloom Weavers’ ComprehensiveWelfare Scheme has been launched and will provideinsurance cover to a total of 120 lakh weavers in the11th Plan.

• In order to scale up both infrastructure andproduction, the Government proposes to take up sixcentres for development as mega-clusters. Varanasiand Sibsagar will be taken up for handlooms,Bhiwandi and Erode for powerlooms and Narsapurand Moradabad for handicrafts.

8.1.17 Jute

• The minimum support price for raw jute has beenenhanced progressively from Rs. 890 per quintal in

jute year 2004-05 to Rs. 1,250 in jute year 2008-09.

• To ensure adequate demand, the level ofcompulsory packaging has been increased for sugarand food grains.

• A comprehensive National Jute Policy has beenannounced for the first time to boost demand forjute and protect the interests of jute growers.

• Restructuring of the Jute Corporation of Indiahas been undertaken.

• A Jute Technology Mission has been launchedfor holistic development of the jute sector.

• Establishment of the National Jute Board hasbeen initiated to effect synergy in the activities ofvarious organisations in the jute sector.

8.2 ENERGY

8.2.1 Coal

• A new coal distribution policy has been notifiedto meet the full requirements of the defence, railway,power and fertilizer sectors.

• Over the past four years, production has risensignificantly, profitability of Coal India subsidiariesimproved and a large number of coal blocks allocatedto Coal India as well as private, joint and state sectorentities to ensure timely development for meetingfuture energy requirements.

• Over the last four years, 142 coal blocks withgeological reserves of about 37,000 million tonneshave been allocated, whereas only 39 blocks withtotal geological reserves of 3,700 million tonneswere allocated earlier.

8.2.2 Power

• The 11th Plan target for additional powergeneration capacity is 78,000 MW. Projectsaggregating more than 60,000 MW of powergeneration are under construction.

• The UPA Government has taken variousmeasures, including allotment of coal blocks with

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last 10 to 20 years. The UPA Government had takenup their revival in mission mode and revival packageshave been approved for Hindustan OrganicChemicals Ltd. and Hindustan Insecticide Ltd.,involving cash infusion as well as waivers amountingto several hundred crore rupees.

8.1.12 Mining

• A new mineral policy, which will greatly expandthe investment and employment opportunities inmining, has been adopted. This will result in theimprovement of procedures for granting mininglicences, particularly ensuring a smooth transitionfrom exploration licence to prospecting and mininglicences.

• The Geological Survey of India is beingmodernised and technologically upgraded to enhanceits capabilities for mineral exploration on land andoff-shore.

• NALCO will complete a major capacityenhancement this year. The financial performanceof NALCO, Hindustan Copper Ltd. and MineralExploration Corporation Ltd. have improvedsignificantly over the last four years.

8.1.13 Steel

The profitability of public sector steel companieshas gone up substantially, energizing Steel Authorityof India Ltd. to go in for major expansion plans.India is now the 5th largest steel producing nationin the world as against its 8th rank in the year 2005and is set to become the 2nd largest steel producerin the world by the year 2015. The National SteelPolicy was launched in 2005. The projections of 110million tonnes of steel production envisaged in theNational Steel Policy are now expected to besurpassed by 2011-12.

8.1.14 Food processing industries

• The UPA Government initiated the Food Safetyand Standards Act, 2006, to provide an integratedlaw relating to food and for systematic and scientificdevelopment of food processing industries based onself-compliance. Earlier, thirteen different lawsaffected food and food processing industries.

• The UPA Government provided a five-yearIncome Tax holiday and other concessions for newindustries set up to process, preserve and packagefruits and vegetables.

• Food processing has been covered under prioritysector lending with refinancing through NABARD.

• Excise and customs duty exemptions and relieveshave been given in respect of several items in thefood processing sector.

• To achieve the objectives of tripling the size ofthe processed food sector by 2015, and doubling itsshare in global trade, 30 Mega Food Parks and anIntegrated Cold Chain will be set up in the 11th Plan.

• A National Institute of Food TechnologyEntrepreneurship and Management is being set upat Kundli as a knowledge institution for the sector.

8.1.15 Textiles

• A major package, including tax relief, wasprovided. The duty structure has been rationalisedto achieve growth and maximum value additionwithin the country. Except for man-made filamentyarns and staple fibres, the whole value additionchain has been given an option of excise exemption.Basic customs duty on machinery and spares hasbeen reduced, additional capital subsidy provided,duties on machinery, raw materials and sparesbrought down, and excise duty on polyester filamentyarn reduced.

• The scope and outlays of schemes like theTechnology Upgradation Fund Scheme and theTechnology Mission on Cotton have been augmentedto modernise the industry and to ensure availabilityof quality raw material at competitive prices. As aresult of introduction of an additional credit linkedcapital subsidy of 10%, investment through theTechnology Upgradation Fund Scheme has gone upfrom around Rs.1,300 crore in 2003-04 to aroundRs. 20,000 crore in 2006-07. Under the TechnologyMission on Cotton, incentives for better farmpractices, quality seeds, improvement in marketinfrastructure and modernisation of ginning andpressing have resulted in cotton production andproductivity touching record highs.

• The Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks hasbeen launched to strengthen infrastructure. Underthe scheme, it is proposed to set up 40 IntegratedTextiles Parks. In the 2008-09 Budget, six centresfor development as mega clusters in handloom,handicraft and power loom sectors have beenidentified for scaling up infrastructure and productionbase.

• A Technology Mission on Textiles will beimplemented in the 11th Plan. Four centres ofexcellence will be set up in key segments likemeditech, geotech, agritech and buildtech. TheNational Institute of Fashion Technology has beenempowered to award degrees.

8.1.16 Handlooms and handicrafts

• A focused approach to helping weavers is inplace with an increase in the number of clusterdevelopment centres, more yarn depots, support totechnology upgrade, health and life insurance coverfor weavers, and a new “Handloom Mark” forbranding promotion.

• 250 handloom clusters of over 5,000 handloomshave been taken up under the Integrated HandloomDevelopment Scheme.

• The Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojanahas been launched to provide health insurancecoverage to artisans and their families and will cover40 lakh artisans during the 11th Plan.

• The Handloom Weavers’ ComprehensiveWelfare Scheme has been launched and will provideinsurance cover to a total of 120 lakh weavers in the11th Plan.

• In order to scale up both infrastructure andproduction, the Government proposes to take up sixcentres for development as mega-clusters. Varanasiand Sibsagar will be taken up for handlooms,Bhiwandi and Erode for powerlooms and Narsapurand Moradabad for handicrafts.

8.1.17 Jute

• The minimum support price for raw jute has beenenhanced progressively from Rs. 890 per quintal in

jute year 2004-05 to Rs. 1,250 in jute year 2008-09.

• To ensure adequate demand, the level ofcompulsory packaging has been increased for sugarand food grains.

• A comprehensive National Jute Policy has beenannounced for the first time to boost demand forjute and protect the interests of jute growers.

• Restructuring of the Jute Corporation of Indiahas been undertaken.

• A Jute Technology Mission has been launchedfor holistic development of the jute sector.

• Establishment of the National Jute Board hasbeen initiated to effect synergy in the activities ofvarious organisations in the jute sector.

8.2 ENERGY

8.2.1 Coal

• A new coal distribution policy has been notifiedto meet the full requirements of the defence, railway,power and fertilizer sectors.

• Over the past four years, production has risensignificantly, profitability of Coal India subsidiariesimproved and a large number of coal blocks allocatedto Coal India as well as private, joint and state sectorentities to ensure timely development for meetingfuture energy requirements.

• Over the last four years, 142 coal blocks withgeological reserves of about 37,000 million tonneshave been allocated, whereas only 39 blocks withtotal geological reserves of 3,700 million tonneswere allocated earlier.

8.2.2 Power

• The 11th Plan target for additional powergeneration capacity is 78,000 MW. Projectsaggregating more than 60,000 MW of powergeneration are under construction.

• The UPA Government has taken variousmeasures, including allotment of coal blocks with

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the capacity to support 68,000 MW of powergeneration.

• Nine sites have been identified in nine States forsetting up coal-based Ultra Mega Power Projects(UMPP) with capacity of 4,000 MW each, and workhas started on the Sasan and Mundhra projects.

• A new hydro-electric power policy has beenapproved to attract private sector investment throughexemption from tariff based bidding.

8.2.3 Petroleum and natural gas

• The UPA Government has placed great emphasison enhancing energy security through rapidexploration of domestic oil and gas reserves,combined with acquisitions abroad.

• The Government has awarded 72 explorationblocks in the last four years which has increasedarea under exploration by 30%. Significant oil andgas reserves have been discovered in 15 blocks.With exploration and development efforts madeunder the sixth round of NELP, natural gas productionin the country is likely to be doubled from the presentlevel by the end of the 11th Plan. In the recentlylaunched seventh round, 57 exploration blocks havebeen offered.

• Public sector oil companies have beenencouraged to acquire exploration blocks overseasand have established presence in 22 countries. As aresult, it is expected that during the 11th Plan period,overseas crude oil and natural gas production wouldrespectively be of the order of seven million metrictonnes annually and two billion cubic metres annually.

• The first commercial production of coal bedmethane began recently, and the first deepwaternatural gas production will also commence this year.

• The Petroleum and Natural Gas RegulatoryAuthority has been made operational to protect theinterests of consumers and entities engaged in theactivities specified, to ensure uninterrupted andadequate supply in all parts of the country, and topromote competitive markets.

• The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum

Technology has been set up to meet the shortfall oftrained technical manpower in the petroleum sector.

• Setting up of three major public sector refineriesParadip, Bhatinda and Bina has been taken up toaugment refining capacity.

• As a result of the Government’s efforts, Indiahas emerged as one of the world’s major refiningand exporting hubs during the last five years. Frombeing a net importer, India has become a net exporterof petroleum due to increased refining capacity.

8.2.4 Nuclear energy

The total installed capacity of the nuclear powerplants is set to rise from 4,120 MWe to 6,780 MWeby 2009 and 7,280 MWe by 2011.

8.2.5 New and renewable energy

• The UPA Government has given greater focuson renewable power during the past four years, withcapacity addition during this period beingsubstantially more than that added during thepreceding 15-year period. Additional grid-interactiverenewable power generation capacity of nearly 6,500MW was installed during the period, as againstcumulative achievement of nearly 4,800 MW earlier.Consequently, the country has emerged as a leaderin Asia, and holds 4th rank worldwide in wind power.

• Under the Remote Village Electrification scheme,as against cumulative electrification of around 1,300villages by March 2004, around 2,100 villages havebeen electrified since.

• National policies on bio-fuels and renewableenergy are being finalized.

8.3 INFRASTRUCTURE

The 11th Plan aims to raise the total annualinvestment in infrastructure from 5% of GDP to 9%.Public sector investment will continue to play animportant role in infrastructure development,supplemented by private investment whereverfeasible.

8.3.1 Roads

• The UPA Government has taken up a majordevelopment project for improvement of NationalHighways, viz., the National Highways DevelopmentProject (NHDP). It has formulated an ambitious planfor investment of Rs. 2,36,000 crore for upgrade ofnational highways under various phases of the NHDP,involving a total length of about 34,000 km. PhasesI and II of the NHDP comprise the GoldenQuadrilateral connecting the four metropolitan citieshaving an aggregate road length of 5,846 km, theNorth-South and East-West Corridors which entailsfour-laning of 7,300 km of national highways fromSrinagar to Kanyakumari and from Silchar to

Porbandar, development/ improvement of 380 kmlength of roads / national highways for providingconnectivity to 10 major ports, and upgrade of 811km of other important national highways. 97% ofthe Golden Quadrilateral has been completed. Phase-II is to be completed by 2009. NHDP Phase-IIIinvolves four-laning of 12,109 km of nationalhighways, having high density corridor connectingstate capitals, important tourist places, economicallyimportant areas, etc. The Government has approvedimplementation of 4,815 km under NHDP Phase-IIIA by 2009 and implementation of the balancelength of 7,294 km under NHDP-IIIB by 2013. TheGovernment has also accorded approvals for six-laning of 6,500 km of national highways underNHDP Phase-V by 2012, construction of 1,000 kmof expressways under NHDP Phase-VI by 2015, andconstruction of ring roads, flyovers and bypasses in

selected stretches under NHDP Phase-VII by 2014.Out of the total length of 34,000 km, work on alength of 8,100 km has been completed and another7,600 km under implementation by January 2008.

• The Government has also approved wideningand improvement of national and state highways inthe Northeastern region to ensure better connectivityto all 85 district headquarters in the region.

• In addition, over the last four years, roadconstruction and improvement works have beencarried out over a length of more than 23,000 kmunder the Department of Road Transport and NationalHighways.

• Further, ten existing roads having total lengthof over 1,700 km have been declared as nationalhighways over the last four years.

8.3.2 Airports and aviation

• The civil aviation sector has witnessedunprecedented growth in recent years, with aviationcoming within the reach of common people. TheUPA Government has given priority to upgrade andmodernization of airports and increased availabilityof skilled personnel in the sector. New internationalairport has been inaugurated at Hyderabad and thatat Bangalore is also set for commissioning in 2008.Construction of new terminals at Delhi and othermetro cities is under way. Both Delhi and Mumbaiairports upgrade and modernization works aretargeted for completion by 2010.

• The UPA Government is committed to modernize35 non-metro airports to world-class standards. AgraAirport has been commissioned, and another eightairports are expected to be operational soon, withwork on the remaining airports in progress.

• To address requirement of pilot training, IndiraGandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi has tied up toupgrade its output and in principle approval has beengranted to set up a National Flying Training Instituteat Gondia, Maharashtra.

• A liberal approach in the matter of grant of trafficrights under bilateral agreements with various foreigncountries has led to more flights and better

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the capacity to support 68,000 MW of powergeneration.

• Nine sites have been identified in nine States forsetting up coal-based Ultra Mega Power Projects(UMPP) with capacity of 4,000 MW each, and workhas started on the Sasan and Mundhra projects.

• A new hydro-electric power policy has beenapproved to attract private sector investment throughexemption from tariff based bidding.

8.2.3 Petroleum and natural gas

• The UPA Government has placed great emphasison enhancing energy security through rapidexploration of domestic oil and gas reserves,combined with acquisitions abroad.

• The Government has awarded 72 explorationblocks in the last four years which has increasedarea under exploration by 30%. Significant oil andgas reserves have been discovered in 15 blocks.With exploration and development efforts madeunder the sixth round of NELP, natural gas productionin the country is likely to be doubled from the presentlevel by the end of the 11th Plan. In the recentlylaunched seventh round, 57 exploration blocks havebeen offered.

• Public sector oil companies have beenencouraged to acquire exploration blocks overseasand have established presence in 22 countries. As aresult, it is expected that during the 11th Plan period,overseas crude oil and natural gas production wouldrespectively be of the order of seven million metrictonnes annually and two billion cubic metres annually.

• The first commercial production of coal bedmethane began recently, and the first deepwaternatural gas production will also commence this year.

• The Petroleum and Natural Gas RegulatoryAuthority has been made operational to protect theinterests of consumers and entities engaged in theactivities specified, to ensure uninterrupted andadequate supply in all parts of the country, and topromote competitive markets.

• The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum

Technology has been set up to meet the shortfall oftrained technical manpower in the petroleum sector.

• Setting up of three major public sector refineriesParadip, Bhatinda and Bina has been taken up toaugment refining capacity.

• As a result of the Government’s efforts, Indiahas emerged as one of the world’s major refiningand exporting hubs during the last five years. Frombeing a net importer, India has become a net exporterof petroleum due to increased refining capacity.

8.2.4 Nuclear energy

The total installed capacity of the nuclear powerplants is set to rise from 4,120 MWe to 6,780 MWeby 2009 and 7,280 MWe by 2011.

8.2.5 New and renewable energy

• The UPA Government has given greater focuson renewable power during the past four years, withcapacity addition during this period beingsubstantially more than that added during thepreceding 15-year period. Additional grid-interactiverenewable power generation capacity of nearly 6,500MW was installed during the period, as againstcumulative achievement of nearly 4,800 MW earlier.Consequently, the country has emerged as a leaderin Asia, and holds 4th rank worldwide in wind power.

• Under the Remote Village Electrification scheme,as against cumulative electrification of around 1,300villages by March 2004, around 2,100 villages havebeen electrified since.

• National policies on bio-fuels and renewableenergy are being finalized.

8.3 INFRASTRUCTURE

The 11th Plan aims to raise the total annualinvestment in infrastructure from 5% of GDP to 9%.Public sector investment will continue to play animportant role in infrastructure development,supplemented by private investment whereverfeasible.

8.3.1 Roads

• The UPA Government has taken up a majordevelopment project for improvement of NationalHighways, viz., the National Highways DevelopmentProject (NHDP). It has formulated an ambitious planfor investment of Rs. 2,36,000 crore for upgrade ofnational highways under various phases of the NHDP,involving a total length of about 34,000 km. PhasesI and II of the NHDP comprise the GoldenQuadrilateral connecting the four metropolitan citieshaving an aggregate road length of 5,846 km, theNorth-South and East-West Corridors which entailsfour-laning of 7,300 km of national highways fromSrinagar to Kanyakumari and from Silchar to

Porbandar, development/ improvement of 380 kmlength of roads / national highways for providingconnectivity to 10 major ports, and upgrade of 811km of other important national highways. 97% ofthe Golden Quadrilateral has been completed. Phase-II is to be completed by 2009. NHDP Phase-IIIinvolves four-laning of 12,109 km of nationalhighways, having high density corridor connectingstate capitals, important tourist places, economicallyimportant areas, etc. The Government has approvedimplementation of 4,815 km under NHDP Phase-IIIA by 2009 and implementation of the balancelength of 7,294 km under NHDP-IIIB by 2013. TheGovernment has also accorded approvals for six-laning of 6,500 km of national highways underNHDP Phase-V by 2012, construction of 1,000 kmof expressways under NHDP Phase-VI by 2015, andconstruction of ring roads, flyovers and bypasses in

selected stretches under NHDP Phase-VII by 2014.Out of the total length of 34,000 km, work on alength of 8,100 km has been completed and another7,600 km under implementation by January 2008.

• The Government has also approved wideningand improvement of national and state highways inthe Northeastern region to ensure better connectivityto all 85 district headquarters in the region.

• In addition, over the last four years, roadconstruction and improvement works have beencarried out over a length of more than 23,000 kmunder the Department of Road Transport and NationalHighways.

• Further, ten existing roads having total lengthof over 1,700 km have been declared as nationalhighways over the last four years.

8.3.2 Airports and aviation

• The civil aviation sector has witnessedunprecedented growth in recent years, with aviationcoming within the reach of common people. TheUPA Government has given priority to upgrade andmodernization of airports and increased availabilityof skilled personnel in the sector. New internationalairport has been inaugurated at Hyderabad and thatat Bangalore is also set for commissioning in 2008.Construction of new terminals at Delhi and othermetro cities is under way. Both Delhi and Mumbaiairports upgrade and modernization works aretargeted for completion by 2010.

• The UPA Government is committed to modernize35 non-metro airports to world-class standards. AgraAirport has been commissioned, and another eightairports are expected to be operational soon, withwork on the remaining airports in progress.

• To address requirement of pilot training, IndiraGandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi has tied up toupgrade its output and in principle approval has beengranted to set up a National Flying Training Instituteat Gondia, Maharashtra.

• A liberal approach in the matter of grant of trafficrights under bilateral agreements with various foreigncountries has led to more flights and better

44 45

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connectivity from these countries to India and alsoprovided more commercial opportunities to alloperating carriers.

• The decision of the UPA Government to induct111 new Boeing/ Airbus aircraft in the air fleet aftera decade will strengthen the national carrier to offerbetter services. Delivery has begun.

8.3.3 Ports

• The UPA Government has taken up a programmefor massive capacity expansion of port infrastructure.To upgrade and modernize maritime infrastructure,the National Maritime Development Programme,comprising 387 projects, has been drawn up. 276projects with total investment of Rs. 100,000 crorehave been identified for implementation by 2011-12 for deepening of channels for improvements indrafts, port development, port equipment and portconnectivity. 32 projects have been completed and131 are in various stages of implementation.

• The International Container Trans-shipmentTerminal at Cochin Port is being developed withinvestment of over Rs. 2,000 crore.

• The third container terminal at the Jawaharlal

Nehru Port, Kandla container terminal and Essar OilJetty & SPM at Vadinar in Kandla Port have beenmade operational.

• Licence agreements for development have beensigned for the second container terminal at ChennaiPort and the iron ore, coal and marine liquid terminalsat Ennore Port. At Mumbai port, development ofoffshore container terminal, deepening of harbourwall berths and construction of second chemicaljetty have been taken up. Outer harbour expansionproject has been approved at Vishakhapatnam Port.

• Rail connectivity project to the major ports atHaldia, New Mangalore, Kandla and JawaharlalNehru Port and road connectivity projects toVisakhapatnam Port have been completed.

• Works are in progress on eight rail connectivityprojects and 10 ongoing road projects.

• With the approval of the new model concessionagreement for private sector participation in majorports and revised guidelines for tariff setting forprojects in the public-private participation mode,investment in this sector is expected to get a fillipduring the coming year.

8.3.4 Shipping

• Work on the Sethusamudram Shipping Channelproject is on, except in the Adam’s Bridge region,where work has been stayed by the Supreme Court.

• The introduction of tonnage tax on shipping hasresulted in increase of tonnage and further increaseis expected.

• The Shipping Corporation of India has placedorders for 28 new ship vessels, which will add toshipping capacity on an unprecedented scale in recenttimes.

• A modern microwave-link based Vessels TrafficSystem is being set up as a scheme of nationalimportance in the Gulf of Kachh for regulating traffic.

• Cochin Shipyard and Hindustan Shipyard havebeen successfully turned around and have securedlarge export orders.

8.3.5 Inland waterways

Inland waterways transport has been givenunprecedented attention with the introduction ofbills in Parliament for declaration and consequentdevelopment at a cost of over Rs. 2,000 crore ofTalchar-Dhamra and East CostCanal, Kakinada-Puducherryand Barak river as nationalwaterways with total length of1,839 km, besides developmentworks at Patna and Guwahati,introduction of night navigationfacilities in all the three existingnational waterways and a newscheme for development ofinland water transport in theNortheast. These waterwayswill provide port-hinterlandconnectivity for the ports atParadip, Dhamra, Kolkata andHaldia. This will increase theexisting national waterwayslength by 70%.

8.3.6 Railways

• The UPA Government has achieved a majorturnaround in the financial and technical performanceof the Indian Railways.

• Reforms have been introduced with a humanface, without losing sight of social obligations.Highest ever productivity linked bonus of 70 dayshas been paid to eligible railway employees in 2006-07. Over 36,000 SC/ST vacancies have been filledup, a large number of persons with disabilityrecruited, and minority welfare cells set up to worktowards a fair representation of the minorities in therailways. Improvement in customer services andreduction in passenger fares, particularly for poorersections, have been effected. Improved coaches andtoilets, on-board cleaning, platform improvements,improvements in passenger information services anddoor-to-door logistic services are some of the wide-ranging customer-friendly initiatives undertaken ona large scale by the Indian Railways. Air conditionedGarib Rath trains have been introduced with lowfares. In the last four years almost 500 computerisedpassenger reservation system locations have beenadded. In order to further increase coverage, IndiaPost reservation centres and automatic ticket vendingmachines are being taken up. 22 stations are plannedfor development as world class railway stations

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connectivity from these countries to India and alsoprovided more commercial opportunities to alloperating carriers.

• The decision of the UPA Government to induct111 new Boeing/ Airbus aircraft in the air fleet aftera decade will strengthen the national carrier to offerbetter services. Delivery has begun.

8.3.3 Ports

• The UPA Government has taken up a programmefor massive capacity expansion of port infrastructure.To upgrade and modernize maritime infrastructure,the National Maritime Development Programme,comprising 387 projects, has been drawn up. 276projects with total investment of Rs. 100,000 crorehave been identified for implementation by 2011-12 for deepening of channels for improvements indrafts, port development, port equipment and portconnectivity. 32 projects have been completed and131 are in various stages of implementation.

• The International Container Trans-shipmentTerminal at Cochin Port is being developed withinvestment of over Rs. 2,000 crore.

• The third container terminal at the Jawaharlal

Nehru Port, Kandla container terminal and Essar OilJetty & SPM at Vadinar in Kandla Port have beenmade operational.

• Licence agreements for development have beensigned for the second container terminal at ChennaiPort and the iron ore, coal and marine liquid terminalsat Ennore Port. At Mumbai port, development ofoffshore container terminal, deepening of harbourwall berths and construction of second chemicaljetty have been taken up. Outer harbour expansionproject has been approved at Vishakhapatnam Port.

• Rail connectivity project to the major ports atHaldia, New Mangalore, Kandla and JawaharlalNehru Port and road connectivity projects toVisakhapatnam Port have been completed.

• Works are in progress on eight rail connectivityprojects and 10 ongoing road projects.

• With the approval of the new model concessionagreement for private sector participation in majorports and revised guidelines for tariff setting forprojects in the public-private participation mode,investment in this sector is expected to get a fillipduring the coming year.

8.3.4 Shipping

• Work on the Sethusamudram Shipping Channelproject is on, except in the Adam’s Bridge region,where work has been stayed by the Supreme Court.

• The introduction of tonnage tax on shipping hasresulted in increase of tonnage and further increaseis expected.

• The Shipping Corporation of India has placedorders for 28 new ship vessels, which will add toshipping capacity on an unprecedented scale in recenttimes.

• A modern microwave-link based Vessels TrafficSystem is being set up as a scheme of nationalimportance in the Gulf of Kachh for regulating traffic.

• Cochin Shipyard and Hindustan Shipyard havebeen successfully turned around and have securedlarge export orders.

8.3.5 Inland waterways

Inland waterways transport has been givenunprecedented attention with the introduction ofbills in Parliament for declaration and consequentdevelopment at a cost of over Rs. 2,000 crore ofTalchar-Dhamra and East CostCanal, Kakinada-Puducherryand Barak river as nationalwaterways with total length of1,839 km, besides developmentworks at Patna and Guwahati,introduction of night navigationfacilities in all the three existingnational waterways and a newscheme for development ofinland water transport in theNortheast. These waterwayswill provide port-hinterlandconnectivity for the ports atParadip, Dhamra, Kolkata andHaldia. This will increase theexisting national waterwayslength by 70%.

8.3.6 Railways

• The UPA Government has achieved a majorturnaround in the financial and technical performanceof the Indian Railways.

• Reforms have been introduced with a humanface, without losing sight of social obligations.Highest ever productivity linked bonus of 70 dayshas been paid to eligible railway employees in 2006-07. Over 36,000 SC/ST vacancies have been filledup, a large number of persons with disabilityrecruited, and minority welfare cells set up to worktowards a fair representation of the minorities in therailways. Improvement in customer services andreduction in passenger fares, particularly for poorersections, have been effected. Improved coaches andtoilets, on-board cleaning, platform improvements,improvements in passenger information services anddoor-to-door logistic services are some of the wide-ranging customer-friendly initiatives undertaken ona large scale by the Indian Railways. Air conditionedGarib Rath trains have been introduced with lowfares. In the last four years almost 500 computerisedpassenger reservation system locations have beenadded. In order to further increase coverage, IndiaPost reservation centres and automatic ticket vendingmachines are being taken up. 22 stations are plannedfor development as world class railway stations

46 47

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across the country. Train accidents have come downto an all-time low.

• An investment of about Rs. 75,000 crore will bemade over the next seven years to augment linecapacity on high traffic density routes. The Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata Dedicated Freight Corridor has beentaken up and will be a landmark in railwayinfrastructure, besides supporting massiveindustrialization alongside. Decision to set up newcoach factories at Rae Bareilly and in Kerala hasbeen announced.

8.3.7 Telecommunications

• The number of telephone connections has grownfour-fold in four years.

• A scheme has been launched to provide supportfor setting up and managing telecom infrastructurein rural areas, to affordably and quickly expandmobile telecom services.

• Facilitated by the incentives under the broadbandpolicy announced in 2004, the number of broadbandconnections has increased from 1.8 lakh to around32 lakh broadband connections, covering more than1,400 towns.

8.3.8 Catalytic schemes to promote infrastructuredevelopment

A scheme has been launched for viability gap grantto infrastructure projects that are financially unviabledespite being economically viable. In order tosupplement lending by banks and financialinstitutions, which are currently deficient in providinglong-term debt, a special purpose vehicle wasconceived to give long-term loans to infrastructureprojects. The twin schemes for viability gap fundingand long-term debt to infrastructure projects addresscritical gaps in private sector financing ofinfrastructure and ensure that infrastructure projectsrendered unviable due to long gestation periods arenot neglected due to unavailability of long-term debt.Through this package, the Government has leveragedscarce budgetary resources for attracting a large poolof private capital. So far, the special purpose vehicle,India Infrastructure Finance Corporation Ltd., hassanctioned 78 projects having total project cost of

over Rs. 1,18,000 crore by mid-April 2008. 30projects having total cost of over Rs. 1,25,000 crorehave been given in-principle approval under theviability gap funding scheme by mid-April 2008.

8.3.9 Other infrastructure initiatives

Besides the above, a number of infrastructure relatedinitiatives have been indicated in the sections onrural renewal, urban renewal and enablingdevelopment in the Northeast and Jammu andKashmir.

8.4 COUNTER-INFLATIONARY MEASURES

8.4.1 Countering inflation

• It has been the endeavour of the UPAGovernment to sustain growth while keeping pricesunder check, insulating the Indian consumer fromglobal inflationary trends. Efforts are being made tocontain inflation despite hardening of commodity –including food – and oil prices and an upsurge incapital inflows.

• Despite threefold increase in the internationalprices of crude oil, the UPA Government haspermitted only minimal increase in the prices forconsumers. Prices of kerosene have not beenincreased.

• To contain inflation in essential commodities,customs duty on wheat, pulses, edible oils and maizehave been reduced to zero, and that for refined andhydrogenated oil to 7.5%, together with improvedavailability of wheat, pulses and edible oils, includingthrough import of wheat, pulses and oilseeds throughPSUs to increase domestic availability. Governmentimported 55 lakh tonnes of wheat in 2006-07 andimport of about 18 lakh tonnes of wheat had beencontracted during 2007-08 till early January 2008.To maximise procurement of wheat and paddy, theUPA Government approved an incentive bonus ofRs. 100 per quintal during the kharif marketingseason 2007-08 for paddy. The support price forwheat, inclusive of bonus, has been raised to Rs.1,000 per quintal. As a result of extraordinaryprocurement effort, wheat procurement in the currentmarketing season had touched 134 lakh tonnes byend-April 2008 and final procurement figure was

48 49

expected to cross the target of 150 lakh tonnes,which is substantially higher than previous yearsprocurement figure of 111 lakh tonnes. Riceprocurement in the kharif marketing season2007-08 was 229 lakh tonnes, as against 209lakh tonnes in the preceding year and this isexpected to rise to 270 lakh tonnes in the comingseason. The Government has decided to release10 lakh tonnes of edible oil in 2008-09 throughthe public distribution system, for which publiccompanies are importing edible oil that will bedistributed with a subsidy of Rs. 15 per kg undera scheme targeted for roll out in end-May orearly-June. Export of wheat, pulses and non-basmati rice has been banned. Enhancedminimum export price of US$ 1,000 per metrictonne has been made applicable for export ofbasmati rice, coupled with proposal in theFinance Bill for imposition of export duty ofRs. 8,000/- per metric tonne. To maintain pricestability, the central issue price for rice andwheat has not been revised throughout the lastfour years.

• To help ensure better milk availability in thelean summer months, customs duty on skimmedmilk powder and butter oil – which is used toreconstitute milk – has been reduced by 10%.

• The Central Government has issued an orderunder the Essential Commodities Act to enable

State Governments to invoke stock limits inrespect of wheat and pulses, empowering themto take effective action against hoarding.

• In cement sector, new tax rates wereannounced to reduce the incidence of taxes oncement with lower retail prices. Excise duty onpackaged cement has been made ad valorem todiscourage price increase.

• Speculation in trading of commodities hasbeen countered by imposition of regulatorymeasures through the Forward MarketsCommission.

• Growth in liquidity has been containedthrough monetary policy.

• To contain inflation in steel prices, customsduty on pig iron and mild steel products as wellas critical inputs for steel manufacture has beenreduced to zero. Countervailing duty on TMTbars and structurals – commonly used in houseconstruction – has also been reduced to zero.To disincentivise export of steel, imposition ofexport duty ranging from 5% to 15% on varioussteel product categories has been proposed inthe Finance Bill. Railways have cut iron orefreight charge by 6%.

Page 55: UPA Achievements in India

across the country. Train accidents have come downto an all-time low.

• An investment of about Rs. 75,000 crore will bemade over the next seven years to augment linecapacity on high traffic density routes. The Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata Dedicated Freight Corridor has beentaken up and will be a landmark in railwayinfrastructure, besides supporting massiveindustrialization alongside. Decision to set up newcoach factories at Rae Bareilly and in Kerala hasbeen announced.

8.3.7 Telecommunications

• The number of telephone connections has grownfour-fold in four years.

• A scheme has been launched to provide supportfor setting up and managing telecom infrastructurein rural areas, to affordably and quickly expandmobile telecom services.

• Facilitated by the incentives under the broadbandpolicy announced in 2004, the number of broadbandconnections has increased from 1.8 lakh to around32 lakh broadband connections, covering more than1,400 towns.

8.3.8 Catalytic schemes to promote infrastructuredevelopment

A scheme has been launched for viability gap grantto infrastructure projects that are financially unviabledespite being economically viable. In order tosupplement lending by banks and financialinstitutions, which are currently deficient in providinglong-term debt, a special purpose vehicle wasconceived to give long-term loans to infrastructureprojects. The twin schemes for viability gap fundingand long-term debt to infrastructure projects addresscritical gaps in private sector financing ofinfrastructure and ensure that infrastructure projectsrendered unviable due to long gestation periods arenot neglected due to unavailability of long-term debt.Through this package, the Government has leveragedscarce budgetary resources for attracting a large poolof private capital. So far, the special purpose vehicle,India Infrastructure Finance Corporation Ltd., hassanctioned 78 projects having total project cost of

over Rs. 1,18,000 crore by mid-April 2008. 30projects having total cost of over Rs. 1,25,000 crorehave been given in-principle approval under theviability gap funding scheme by mid-April 2008.

8.3.9 Other infrastructure initiatives

Besides the above, a number of infrastructure relatedinitiatives have been indicated in the sections onrural renewal, urban renewal and enablingdevelopment in the Northeast and Jammu andKashmir.

8.4 COUNTER-INFLATIONARY MEASURES

8.4.1 Countering inflation

• It has been the endeavour of the UPAGovernment to sustain growth while keeping pricesunder check, insulating the Indian consumer fromglobal inflationary trends. Inflation has beensuccessfully contained despite hardening ofcommodity – including food – and oil prices and anupsurge in capital inflows.

• Despite threefold increase in the internationalprices of crude oil, the UPA Government haspermitted only minimal increase in the prices forconsumers. Prices of kerosene have not beenincreased.

• To contain inflation in essential commodities,customs duty on wheat, pulses, edible oils and maizehave been reduced to zero, and that for refined andhydrogenated oil to 7.5%, together with improvedavailability of wheat, pulses and edible oils, includingthrough import of wheat, pulses and oilseeds throughPSUs to increase domestic availability. Governmentimported 55 lakh tonnes of wheat in 2006-07 andimport of about 18 lakh tonnes of wheat had beencontracted during 2007-08 till early January 2008.To maximise procurement of wheat and paddy, theUPA Government approved an incentive bonus ofRs. 100 per quintal during the kharif marketingseason 2007-08 for paddy. The support price forwheat, inclusive of bonus, has been raised to Rs.1,000 per quintal. As a result of extraordinaryprocurement effort, wheat procurement in the currentmarketing season had touched 134 lakh tonnes byend-April 2008 and final procurement figure was

48 49

expected to cross the target of 150 lakh tonnes,which is substantially higher than previous yearsprocurement figure of 111 lakh tonnes. Riceprocurement in the kharif marketing season2007-08 was 229 lakh tonnes, as against 209lakh tonnes in the preceding year and this isexpected to rise to 270 lakh tonnes in the comingseason. The Government has decided to release10 lakh tonnes of edible oil in 2008-09 throughthe public distribution system, for which publiccompanies are importing edible oil that will bedistributed with a subsidy of Rs. 15 per kg undera scheme targeted for roll out in end-May orearly-June. Export of wheat, pulses and non-basmati rice has been banned. Enhancedminimum export price of US$ 1,000 per metrictonne has been made applicable for export ofbasmati rice, coupled with proposal in theFinance Bill for imposition of export duty ofRs. 8,000/- per metric tonne. To maintain pricestability, the central issue price for rice andwheat has not been revised throughout the lastfour years.

• To help ensure better milk availability in thelean summer months, customs duty on skimmedmilk powder and butter oil – which is used toreconstitute milk – has been reduced by 10%.

• The Central Government has issued an orderunder the Essential Commodities Act to enable

State Governments to invoke stock limits inrespect of wheat and pulses, empowering themto take effective action against hoarding.

• In cement sector, new tax rates wereannounced to reduce the incidence of taxes oncement with lower retail prices. Excise duty onpackaged cement has been made ad valorem todiscourage price increase.

• Speculation in trading of commodities hasbeen countered by imposition of regulatorymeasures through the Forward MarketsCommission.

• Growth in liquidity has been containedthrough monetary policy.

• To contain inflation in steel prices, customsduty on pig iron and mild steel products as wellas critical inputs for steel manufacture has beenreduced to zero. Countervailing duty on TMTbars and structurals – commonly used in houseconstruction – has also been reduced to zero.To disincentivise export of steel, imposition ofexport duty ranging from 5% to 15% on varioussteel product categories has been proposed inthe Finance Bill. Railways have cut iron orefreight charge by 6%.

Page 56: UPA Achievements in India

‘Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara…’9.1 EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

The UPA Government has adopted a foreign policywhich is far-sighted, result-oriented and aimed atpromoting rapid economic development. It has strivento create an external environment conducive to peaceand stability in the region, to ensure India’saccelerated economic development and safeguardnational security. It has accorded highest priority tostrengthening close political, economic, social andcultural relations in India’s immediate and extendedneighbourhood, all major powers as well as ourpartners in the developing world and non-alignedmovement. India today enjoys a significantlyenhanced profile in the international arena as a modelof a stable, pluralistic and secular democracy and arapidly growing economy, which is bound to playan increasingly greater role in international affairs.

• India supported Nepal through its peace processand transition to a democratic, stable, peaceful andprosperous State. A Rs. 1,000 crore assistancepackage, material support to holding of ConstituentAssembly elections, and initiation of majorinfrastructure projects like integrated check-post atRaxaul, construction of Terai roads and cross-borderrail and transmission links.

• During a period of fluid internal developmentsin Bangladesh, the Government has continued tostrengthen its relations with Bangladesh by takingseveral initiatives, which include allowingBangladesh to export eight million pieces ofreadymade garments to India duty-free, lifting theban on FDI from Bangladesh, generous aid andassistance during natural disasters, and the passengertrain ‘Maitree Express’ between Kolkata and Dhaka.

• India-Sri Lanka relations have undergone aqualitative shift in the recent past, especially in theareas of economic cooperation, investment,connectivity and developmental projects. India hasexpressed its conviction that there is no militarysolution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka and theonly way out is a negotiated, political settlementacceptable to all sections of society.

• During the last four years, bilateral relationswith Myanmar have deepened. Several cross-borderprojects are being taken up with Myanmar, including

the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project,which will give a boost to development of theNortheastern Region.

• With Pakistan, the Government has pursued apolicy of constructive engagement to establishpeaceful, friendly and cooperative relations throughthe composite dialogue process predicated onPakistan fulfilling its commitment not to permit anyterritory under its control to be used to supportterrorism in any manner. The peace process withPakistan has produced several gains and enhancementin people-to-people relations. Bus services havecommenced on the Amritsar-Lahore, Amritsar-Nankana Sahib, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes. Trucks now ply across the Wagah-Attari border. It has been decided to include Lahoreas a stop for the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service.The Munabao-Khokrapar Thar Express hascommenced.

• With admission of Afghanistan in SAARC anda major role played by India in the reconstructionand rehabilitation of Afghanistan, India’s relationswith the country have achieved greater depth.

• India and China have established a Strategic andCooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity,identified a ten-pronged strategy to substantiate thePartnership and outlined “a Shared Vision for the21st Century.” An agreement on the politicalparameters and guiding principles for the settlementof the India-China boundary question has beensigned. Border trade has been opened at Nathula.

• India and Japan have forged a strategic andglobal partnership. India has received substantialinvestment and development assistance from Japanand trade between the two countries has grownrapidly. Several rounds of negotiations have takenplace for a Comprehensive Economic PartnershipAgreement.

• The ‘Look East’ Policy has been pursued withvigour. An intensive programme to engage the North-eastern States of India was launched for facilitatingdevelopment of the Northeast Region. Regularparticipation in the India-ASEAN and East AsiaSummits as well as agreements and MoUs in a widerange of spheres have fostered close cooperation

Building Bridges

‘Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara…’

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‘Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara…’9.1 EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

The UPA Government has adopted a foreign policywhich is far-sighted, result-oriented and aimed atpromoting rapid economic development. It has strivento create an external environment conducive to peaceand stability in the region, to ensure India’saccelerated economic development and safeguardnational security. It has accorded highest priority tostrengthening close political, economic, social andcultural relations in India’s immediate and extendedneighbourhood, all major powers as well as ourpartners in the developing world and non-alignedmovement. India today enjoys a significantlyenhanced profile in the international arena as a modelof a stable, pluralistic and secular democracy and arapidly growing economy, which is bound to playan increasingly greater role in international affairs.

• India supported Nepal through its peace processand transition to a democratic, stable, peaceful andprosperous State. A Rs. 1,000 crore assistancepackage, material support to holding of ConstituentAssembly elections, and initiation of majorinfrastructure projects like integrated check-post atRaxaul, construction of Terai roads and cross-borderrail and transmission links.

• During a period of fluid internal developmentsin Bangladesh, the Government has continued tostrengthen its relations with Bangladesh by takingseveral initiatives, which include allowingBangladesh to export eight million pieces ofreadymade garments to India duty-free, lifting theban on FDI from Bangladesh, generous aid andassistance during natural disasters, and the passengertrain ‘Maitree Express’ between Kolkata and Dhaka.

• India-Sri Lanka relations have undergone aqualitative shift in the recent past, especially in theareas of economic cooperation, investment,connectivity and developmental projects. India hasexpressed its conviction that there is no militarysolution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka and theonly way out is a negotiated, political settlementacceptable to all sections of society.

• During the last four years, bilateral relationswith Myanmar have deepened. Several cross-borderprojects are being taken up with Myanmar, including

the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project,which will give a boost to development of theNortheastern Region.

• With Pakistan, the Government has pursued apolicy of constructive engagement to establishpeaceful, friendly and cooperative relations throughthe composite dialogue process predicated onPakistan fulfilling its commitment not to permit anyterritory under its control to be used to supportterrorism in any manner. The peace process withPakistan has produced several gains and enhancementin people-to-people relations. Bus services havecommenced on the Amritsar-Lahore, Amritsar-Nankana Sahib, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes. Trucks now ply across the Wagah-Attari border. It has been decided to include Lahoreas a stop for the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service.The Munabao-Khokrapar Thar Express hascommenced.

• With admission of Afghanistan in SAARC anda major role played by India in the reconstructionand rehabilitation of Afghanistan, India’s relationswith the country have achieved greater depth.

• India and China have established a Strategic andCooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity,identified a ten-pronged strategy to substantiate thePartnership and outlined “a Shared Vision for the21st Century.” An agreement on the politicalparameters and guiding principles for the settlementof the India-China boundary question has beensigned. Border trade has been opened at Nathula.

• India and Japan have forged a strategic andglobal partnership. India has received substantialinvestment and development assistance from Japanand trade between the two countries has grownrapidly. Several rounds of negotiations have takenplace for a Comprehensive Economic PartnershipAgreement.

• The ‘Look East’ Policy has been pursued withvigour. An intensive programme to engage the North-eastern States of India was launched for facilitatingdevelopment of the Northeast Region. Regularparticipation in the India-ASEAN and East AsiaSummits as well as agreements and MoUs in a widerange of spheres have fostered close cooperation

Building Bridges

‘Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara…’

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with South East and East Asian countries. TheGovernment is engaged in the revival of NalandaUniversity as a centre for cultural exchange in theregion.

• The Gulf region has been made an area of specialfocus in the UPA Government’s foreign policy.There has been intensification of high-levelinteractions for cooperation in economy, trade anddefence, etc., with several agreements being signedin the areas of combatting crime, legal assistance,double taxation avoidance, investment promotion,air services and cultural cooperation.

• India’s strategic partnership with Russia hasbeen further developed and strengthened, throughexpansion of bilateral cooperation in the fields ofdefence, space, trade and economy. Summit-levelvisits have taken place every year.

• India’s relations with European Union and itsmember States have been enhanced further throughIndia-European Union Summits and several summit-level interactions with individual States of theEuropean Union, including the United Kingdom,France, Germany and Italy. India and the EuropeanUnion have started negotiations for a Free TradeAgreement covering goods and services. Agreementshave been signed in diverse spheres.

• There has been a transformation in India-USrelations following the exchange of visits betweenthe Prime Minister and the US President. Indo-UScooperation now spans a wide spectrum, includinghigh technology, space, agriculture, education, tradeand economic linkages, and there is prospect of civilnuclear cooperation. Regular interactions on issuesof mutual interest, including regional and globalissues of common concern, are reflective of thedeepening of India-US relations.

• India achieved yet another milestone in itsexpanding engagement with Africa with the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit. India has extended substantialand wide-ranging cooperation to countries in Africathrough the TEAM-9 initiative, New Partnership forAfrica’s Development, Aid to Africa programme,Pan-African Network to provide tele-education andtelemedicine facilities from India to all Africancountries, peacekeeping and technical cooperation.

India has signed Trade Agreements with 29 countriesin Africa.

• The UPA Government provided consistentsupport to the Palestinian cause, including throughhumanitarian and capacity building. It has registeredIndia’s concern over the events in Gaza and WestBank, and particularly over the use of violenceagainst innocent civilians.

• India has taken concerted steps to strengthenrelations with leading Latin American countries,such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia andChile.

• India assumed SAARC chairmanship in April2007 and took the successful initiative of movingSAARC from a declaratory to an implementationphase. Significant progress has been made in theestablishment of the South Asian University proposedby India. A decision has been taken to operationalisethe SAARC Development Fund. India, Bangladeshand Sri Lanka have ratified an agreement on theSAARC Food Bank. India has taken the initiativeof allowing duty-free access to exports from the lessdeveloped countries in SAARC region.

• India has been actively and constructivelyengaged with other member-states on all aspectsrelated to the reform of the United Nations,particularly to make the Security Council moredemocratic, representative and responsive, and torevitalize the General Assembly.

• India remains strongly committed to the purposeand principles of the non-aligned movement andcontinues its positive contribution to the NAMdeliberations.

• On a resolution piloted by India, the firstInternational Day of Non-Violence was observed atthe United Nations on 2nd October, 2007.

• India continues its active and positiveinvolvement in the Commonwealth. India’s candidatehas been selected as the next Secretary General.

• Extradition treaties have been signed with 12countries.

• Bilateral civil aviation negotiations have led toliberalization of air services between India and overtwo dozen countries.

• The UPA Government has followed a policy ofactive engagement with various economic groupingslike G-8, ASEAN, EAS, G-15 BIMSTEC, IBSA,etc. to forge new links and enhance economiccooperation.

• India has played an active role in the internationaldebate on climate change, clearly articulating theconcerns of the developing world, constructivelyengaging with the international community on issuessuch as making available clean technologies ataffordable prices. India has taken a lead in the debateon equity in burden sharing by committing that itsper capita greenhouse gas emissions will not increasebeyond those of developed countries.

9.2 OVERSEAS INDIANS

9.2.1 Overseas citizenship

The scheme for Overseas Citizenship of India hasbeen extended to cover all overseas Indians whoemigrated after January 26, 1950. Overseas Citizenshave been granted parity with NRIs in respect offacilities in economic, financial and educationalfields, with some exceptions, besides lifelong multi-purpose multi-entry visa and exemption fromregistration with local authorities.

9.2.2 Facilitating employment overseas

• To facilitate potential migrant workers and helpthose overseas workers who are in distress, anOverseas Workers Resource Centre and the Councilfor Promotion of Overseas Employment have beenset up. The Overseas Workers Resource Centreprovides information to potential overseas workersacross the country in seven languages.

• A programme for pre-departure orientation andskill upgrade has been launched in partnership withindustry associations and state governments.

9.2.3 Social security

• A social security agreement has been entered

into with Belgium, exempting overseas Indians onshort-term contracts from payment of social securitycontributions and providing for export of socialsecurity benefits for those on long-term contract,after they relocate to India. The Government hasinitiated the process for entering into similaragreements with other European countries.

• The Government has entered into bilateral MoUson manpower with the United Arab Emirates andKuwait on a wide range of issues concerning theprotection and welfare of overseas Indian workers.More such MoUs are being negotiated with othercountries.

9.2.4 PIO university

The UPA Government has approved the policy framefor setting up a university for children and personsof Indian origin and work on the university isexpected to commence over the next year.

9.2.5 Reform of Emigration ClearanceRequirement

A major emigration policy reform – the abolition ofthe requirement of emigration clearance – has helpedsimplify overseas travel by over five lakh ECRpassport holders, who were earlier required to takeemigration clearance if they traveled for visits otherthan for employment.

9.3 MANAGING BORDERS

9.3.1 Border infrastructure

To improve infrastructure at major entry points, theUPA Government has approved setting up of 13Integrated Check Posts on the borders with Nepal,Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar.

9.3.2 Border fencing

• Around 2,550 km of the India-Bangladesh borderhas been fenced out of the total sanctioned lengthof 3,286 km, besides construction of 3,250 km ofborder roads.

• It has been decided to floodlight 2,840 km ofthe border.

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with South East and East Asian countries. TheGovernment is engaged in the revival of NalandaUniversity as a centre for cultural exchange in theregion.

• The Gulf region has been made an area of specialfocus in the UPA Government’s foreign policy.There has been intensification of high-levelinteractions for cooperation in economy, trade anddefence, etc., with several agreements being signedin the areas of combatting crime, legal assistance,double taxation avoidance, investment promotion,air services and cultural cooperation.

• India’s strategic partnership with Russia hasbeen further developed and strengthened, throughexpansion of bilateral cooperation in the fields ofdefence, space, trade and economy. Summit-levelvisits have taken place every year.

• India’s relations with European Union and itsmember States have been enhanced further throughIndia-European Union Summits and several summit-level interactions with individual States of theEuropean Union, including the United Kingdom,France, Germany and Italy. India and the EuropeanUnion have started negotiations for a Free TradeAgreement covering goods and services. Agreementshave been signed in diverse spheres.

• There has been a transformation in India-USrelations following the exchange of visits betweenthe Prime Minister and the US President. Indo-UScooperation now spans a wide spectrum, includinghigh technology, space, agriculture, education, tradeand economic linkages, and there is prospect of civilnuclear cooperation. Regular interactions on issuesof mutual interest, including regional and globalissues of common concern, are reflective of thedeepening of India-US relations.

• India achieved yet another milestone in itsexpanding engagement with Africa with the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit. India has extended substantialand wide-ranging cooperation to countries in Africathrough the TEAM-9 initiative, New Partnership forAfrica’s Development, Aid to Africa programme,Pan-African Network to provide tele-education andtelemedicine facilities from India to all Africancountries, peacekeeping and technical cooperation.

India has signed Trade Agreements with 29 countriesin Africa.

• The UPA Government provided consistentsupport to the Palestinian cause, including throughhumanitarian and capacity building. It has registeredIndia’s concern over the events in Gaza and WestBank, and particularly over the use of violenceagainst innocent civilians.

• India has taken concerted steps to strengthenrelations with leading Latin American countries,such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia andChile.

• India assumed SAARC chairmanship in April2007 and took the successful initiative of movingSAARC from a declaratory to an implementationphase. Significant progress has been made in theestablishment of the South Asian University proposedby India. A decision has been taken to operationalisethe SAARC Development Fund. India, Bangladeshand Sri Lanka have ratified an agreement on theSAARC Food Bank. India has taken the initiativeof allowing duty-free access to exports from the lessdeveloped countries in SAARC region.

• India has been actively and constructivelyengaged with other member-states on all aspectsrelated to the reform of the United Nations,particularly to make the Security Council moredemocratic, representative and responsive, and torevitalize the General Assembly.

• India remains strongly committed to the purposeand principles of the non-aligned movement andcontinues its positive contribution to the NAMdeliberations.

• On a resolution piloted by India, the firstInternational Day of Non-Violence was observed atthe United Nations on 2nd October, 2007.

• India continues its active and positiveinvolvement in the Commonwealth. India’s candidatehas been selected as the next Secretary General.

• Extradition treaties have been signed with 12countries.

• Bilateral civil aviation negotiations have led toliberalization of air services between India and overtwo dozen countries.

• The UPA Government has followed a policy ofactive engagement with various economic groupingslike G-8, ASEAN, EAS, G-15 BIMSTEC, IBSA,etc. to forge new links and enhance economiccooperation.

• India has played an active role in the internationaldebate on climate change, clearly articulating theconcerns of the developing world, constructivelyengaging with the international community on issuessuch as making available clean technologies ataffordable prices. India has taken a lead in the debateon equity in burden sharing by committing that itsper capita greenhouse gas emissions will not increasebeyond those of developed countries.

9.2 OVERSEAS INDIANS

9.2.1 Overseas citizenship

The scheme for Overseas Citizenship of India hasbeen extended to cover all overseas Indians whoemigrated after January 26, 1950. Overseas Citizenshave been granted parity with NRIs in respect offacilities in economic, financial and educationalfields, with some exceptions, besides lifelong multi-purpose multi-entry visa and exemption fromregistration with local authorities.

9.2.2 Facilitating employment overseas

• To facilitate potential migrant workers and helpthose overseas workers who are in distress, anOverseas Workers Resource Centre and the Councilfor Promotion of Overseas Employment have beenset up. The Overseas Workers Resource Centreprovides information to potential overseas workersacross the country in seven languages.

• A programme for pre-departure orientation andskill upgrade has been launched in partnership withindustry associations and state governments.

9.2.3 Social security

• A social security agreement has been entered

into with Belgium, exempting overseas Indians onshort-term contracts from payment of social securitycontributions and providing for export of socialsecurity benefits for those on long-term contract,after they relocate to India. The Government hasinitiated the process for entering into similaragreements with other European countries.

• The Government has entered into bilateral MoUson manpower with the United Arab Emirates andKuwait on a wide range of issues concerning theprotection and welfare of overseas Indian workers.More such MoUs are being negotiated with othercountries.

9.2.4 PIO university

The UPA Government has approved the policy framefor setting up a university for children and personsof Indian origin and work on the university isexpected to commence over the next year.

9.2.5 Reform of Emigration ClearanceRequirement

A major emigration policy reform – the abolition ofthe requirement of emigration clearance – has helpedsimplify overseas travel by over five lakh ECRpassport holders, who were earlier required to takeemigration clearance if they traveled for visits otherthan for employment.

9.3 MANAGING BORDERS

9.3.1 Border infrastructure

To improve infrastructure at major entry points, theUPA Government has approved setting up of 13Integrated Check Posts on the borders with Nepal,Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar.

9.3.2 Border fencing

• Around 2,550 km of the India-Bangladesh borderhas been fenced out of the total sanctioned lengthof 3,286 km, besides construction of 3,250 km ofborder roads.

• It has been decided to floodlight 2,840 km ofthe border.

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• The Government has approved construction oflink roads of operational significance along the India-China border.

9.3.3 Cross-border services

• Bus services have commenced on the Amritsar-Lahore, Amritsar-Nankana Sahib, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes.

• Trucks now ply across the Wagah-Attari border.

• It has been decided to include Lahore as a stopfor the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service.

• The Munabao-Khokrapar Thar Express hascommenced.

• Infrastructure at the Wagah-Attari border is beingupgraded.

9.3.4 Border area development

• Over the last four years, over Rs. 1,700 crorehave been provided under the Border AreaDevelopment Programme for development of 361border blocks.

• The Border Area Development Programme isbeing revised to give priority to development ofthese areas.

• The norms of coverage of villages under PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been revised toensure coverage to hundreds of additional habitationsin border areas.

‘Ready! Aye ready!’

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• The Government has approved construction oflink roads of operational significance along the India-China border.

9.3.3 Cross-border services

• Bus services have commenced on the Amritsar-Lahore, Amritsar-Nankana Sahib, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes.

• Trucks now ply across the Wagah-Attari border.

• It has been decided to include Lahore as a stopfor the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service.

• The Munabao-Khokrapar Thar Express hascommenced.

• Infrastructure at the Wagah-Attari border is beingupgraded.

9.3.4 Border area development

• Over the last four years, over Rs. 1,700 crorehave been provided under the Border AreaDevelopment Programme for development of 361border blocks.

• The Border Area Development Programme isbeing revised to give priority to development ofthese areas.

• The norms of coverage of villages under PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been revised toensure coverage to hundreds of additional habitationsin border areas.

‘Ready! Aye ready!’

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10.1 POLICY INITIATIVES ANDPREPAREDNESS

10.1.1 Legislative and institutional initiatives

Orientation has been changed from a relief-centricapproach to a holistic approach, including measuresfor preventing and mitigating effects of disasters.The UPA Government initiated enactment of theDisaster Management Act, 2005 and set up theNational Disaster Management Authority with theNational Disaster Response Force, National DisasterResponse Fund and National Institute of DisasterManagement under it. A number of states and unionterritories have constituted Disaster ManagementAuthorities at the state and district levels under theAct.

10.1.2 Assistance for long-term rehabilitation andreconstruction

Normally, the expenditure on long-term rehabilitationand reconstruction of damaged infrastructure isrequired to be met by state governments from theirPlan resources. However, keeping in view themagnitude of the situation and requirement of funds,the Government of India has provided necessaryfinancial assistance for long-term rehabilitation andreconstruction as well in respect of the tsunami in2004, the earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir in 2005,and the nine States that experienced severe floodsin 2005. Additional assistance of Rs. 5,323 crorehas been provided to the nine flood affected states.

10.1.3 Revision of norms of assistance for naturalcalamities

The eligibility for calamity assistance has beenextended to additionally cover landslides, avalanches,cloudbursts and pests attacks. The extant items andnorms of assistance have been revised substantiallyupwards so as to provide higher amounts of reliefassistance to the people affected by various naturalcalamities. In cases of ex gratia payment to thefamilies of the deceased, small and marginal farmers,and people whose houses were damaged, the increasein norms is as high as 100% to 150%.

10.1.4 Flood management

The UPA Government has launched a massive FloodManagement Programme, scaling up assistance forflood management from around Rs. 600 crore in the10th Plan to Rs. 8,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

10.1.5 Disaster preparedness

• A community-based Disaster ManagementProgramme has been taken up in 169 most hazard-prone districts, aimed at reducing disaster-risk throughawareness and development of capacity forpreparedness, response and mitigation at variouslevels.

• Standard operating procedures for terrorist attackshave been finalised and preparedness measuresinitiated. Proper preparedness measures have beenput in place to handle outbreaks of avian flu.

• A major modernisation exercise has beenundertaken in the India Meteorology Department.A state-of-the-art Tsunami Early Warning Systemhas been commissioned.

• The Flood Forecasting Network is beingupgraded through satellite-based data communicationsystem.

10.2 RESPONSE, RELIEF,RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION

10.2.1 Tsunami relief, rehabilitation andreconstruction

A Tsunami Reconstruction Programme, with anoutlay of Rs. 9,822 crore, is being implemented.

10.2.2 Assistance for calamity relief and contingency

• Calamity relief and contingency assistance ofaround Rs. 19,000 crore has been provided to statesover the last four years.

• Besides, assistance in the form of additionalquotas / instalments of grains, essential commodities,development programmes and long-termrehabilitation assistance have been provided whererequired.

10.2.3 Relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction forearthquake in J&K

• Total assistance of over Rs. 542 crore has beenprovided through the State Government and variousagencies of the Government of India.

• In addition, a package for long-termreconstruction of damaged infrastructure at a costof Rs. 636 crore has been approved.

10.3 REHABILITATION OF LAND OUSTEESAND RIOT VICTIMS

10.3.1 Rehabilitation of land oustees

• The UPA Government has put in place a NationalRehabilitation and Resettlement Policy to addressthe long standing grievances of people displacedfrom their land by development projects. The policyprovides for basic minimum requirements to befulfilled in all projects leading to involuntarydisplacement. The policy aims to minimizedisplacement, ensure adequate and expeditiousparticipatory rehabilitation, take special care of theweaker sections of society, provide sustainableincome to the oustees, and integrate rehabilitationinto planning and implementation. The policy alsocovers landless persons. Compensation award is to

be determined as per the intended land use category.Affected families are to be given the option to takeup to 20% of the compensation amount in the formof shares or debentures of the body requiring landacquisition.

• In order to give statutory backing to the policy,the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007 andLand Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2007 havebeen introduced in Parliament.

10.3.2 Rehabilitation packages for the victims ofthe 1984 and 2002 riots

The UPA Government has approved packages ofassistance for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots aswell as the victims of the train tragedy in Godhraand the ensuing violence in Gujarat in 2002.Additional ex gratia payments have been providedfor in cases of death, injury and damage to residentialas well as uninsured commercial / industrial property.Further, preference in recruitment in Governmentand PSUs has been approved, coupled with necessaryage relaxation, launching of a special recruitmentdrive, allowing rejoining of people on jobs lost dueto absence and giving pensioner benefits in relaxationof normal rules in case the age of superannuationhas been crossed. Assistance of Rs. 315 crore hasbeen released.

Addressing Disasters

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10.1 POLICY INITIATIVES ANDPREPAREDNESS

10.1.1 Legislative and institutional initiatives

Orientation has been changed from a relief-centricapproach to a holistic approach, including measuresfor preventing and mitigating effects of disasters.The UPA Government initiated enactment of theDisaster Management Act, 2005 and set up theNational Disaster Management Authority with theNational Disaster Response Force, National DisasterResponse Fund and National Institute of DisasterManagement under it. A number of states and unionterritories have constituted Disaster ManagementAuthorities at the state and district levels under theAct.

10.1.2 Assistance for long-term rehabilitation andreconstruction

Normally, the expenditure on long-term rehabilitationand reconstruction of damaged infrastructure isrequired to be met by state governments from theirPlan resources. However, keeping in view themagnitude of the situation and requirement of funds,the Government of India has provided necessaryfinancial assistance for long-term rehabilitation andreconstruction as well in respect of the tsunami in2004, the earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir in 2005,and the nine States that experienced severe floodsin 2005. Additional assistance of Rs. 5,323 crorehas been provided to the nine flood affected states.

10.1.3 Revision of norms of assistance for naturalcalamities

The eligibility for calamity assistance has beenextended to additionally cover landslides, avalanches,cloudbursts and pests attacks. The extant items andnorms of assistance have been revised substantiallyupwards so as to provide higher amounts of reliefassistance to the people affected by various naturalcalamities. In cases of ex gratia payment to thefamilies of the deceased, small and marginal farmers,and people whose houses were damaged, the increasein norms is as high as 100% to 150%.

10.1.4 Flood management

The UPA Government has launched a massive FloodManagement Programme, scaling up assistance forflood management from around Rs. 600 crore in the10th Plan to Rs. 8,000 crore in the 11th Plan.

10.1.5 Disaster preparedness

• A community-based Disaster ManagementProgramme has been taken up in 169 most hazard-prone districts, aimed at reducing disaster-risk throughawareness and development of capacity forpreparedness, response and mitigation at variouslevels.

• Standard operating procedures for terrorist attackshave been finalised and preparedness measuresinitiated. Proper preparedness measures have beenput in place to handle outbreaks of avian flu.

• A major modernisation exercise has beenundertaken in the India Meteorology Department.A state-of-the-art Tsunami Early Warning Systemhas been commissioned.

• The Flood Forecasting Network is beingupgraded through satellite-based data communicationsystem.

10.2 RESPONSE, RELIEF,RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION

10.2.1 Tsunami relief, rehabilitation andreconstruction

A Tsunami Reconstruction Programme, with anoutlay of Rs. 9,822 crore, is being implemented.

10.2.2 Assistance for calamity relief and contingency

• Calamity relief and contingency assistance ofaround Rs. 19,000 crore has been provided to statesover the last four years.

• Besides, assistance in the form of additionalquotas / instalments of grains, essential commodities,development programmes and long-termrehabilitation assistance have been provided whererequired.

10.2.3 Relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction forearthquake in J&K

• Total assistance of over Rs. 542 crore has beenprovided through the State Government and variousagencies of the Government of India.

• In addition, a package for long-termreconstruction of damaged infrastructure at a costof Rs. 636 crore has been approved.

10.3 REHABILITATION OF LAND OUSTEESAND RIOT VICTIMS

10.3.1 Rehabilitation of land oustees

• The UPA Government has put in place a NationalRehabilitation and Resettlement Policy to addressthe long standing grievances of people displacedfrom their land by development projects. The policyprovides for basic minimum requirements to befulfilled in all projects leading to involuntarydisplacement. The policy aims to minimizedisplacement, ensure adequate and expeditiousparticipatory rehabilitation, take special care of theweaker sections of society, provide sustainableincome to the oustees, and integrate rehabilitationinto planning and implementation. The policy alsocovers landless persons. Compensation award is to

be determined as per the intended land use category.Affected families are to be given the option to takeup to 20% of the compensation amount in the formof shares or debentures of the body requiring landacquisition.

• In order to give statutory backing to the policy,the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007 andLand Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2007 havebeen introduced in Parliament.

10.3.2 Rehabilitation packages for the victims ofthe 1984 and 2002 riots

The UPA Government has approved packages ofassistance for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots aswell as the victims of the train tragedy in Godhraand the ensuing violence in Gujarat in 2002.Additional ex gratia payments have been providedfor in cases of death, injury and damage to residentialas well as uninsured commercial / industrial property.Further, preference in recruitment in Governmentand PSUs has been approved, coupled with necessaryage relaxation, launching of a special recruitmentdrive, allowing rejoining of people on jobs lost dueto absence and giving pensioner benefits in relaxationof normal rules in case the age of superannuationhas been crossed. Assistance of Rs. 315 crore hasbeen released.

Addressing Disasters

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Other Initiatives

11.1 DEFENCE

The UPA Government has taken several steps topromote the modernization of our armed forces andensure defence preparedness of the country. Thesuccessful launch of Agni-III Missile and theinduction of BrahMos Missile System into our armedforces constitute major milestones in the upgrade ofour defence technology.

11.2 INTERNAL SECURITY INITIATIVES

• The overall internal security situation remainsunder control. Government is helping States affectedby left wing extremism both on the internal securityand the development and social empowerment fronts.Modernization of the police and security forces andof intelligence gathering systems is receiving highattention of the Government.

• To strengthen internal security, the Governmenthas taken multiple initiatives, which includeenhancing capabilities of the State Police forcesthrough the Police Modernization Scheme, SecurityRelated Expenditure Scheme, strengthening of theborders of the country by way of fencing, flood-

lighting and deployment of electronic surveillancegadgets, and introducing the Coastal SecurityScheme, Operation Swan and the Mega City andDesert Policing components of the policemodernization scheme.

• The UPA Government has approved raising 100battalions to strengthen internal security.

• Modernization of central paramilitary forces hasbeen taken up at an estimated cost of over Rs. 4,000crore.

• Prevention of Terrorism Act has been repealed,while ensuring adequate safeguards against terrorism.

• The UPA Government has approved a schemefor providing assistance to the families of victimsof terrorist violence, including those affected bymilitancy, insurgency, naxalism and communalviolence.

11.3 COMMUNAL HARMONY

• The overall communal situation has remainedunder control and there has been a sharp fall in the

‘Bravehearts of our borders’

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Other Initiatives

11.1 DEFENCE

The UPA Government has taken several steps topromote the modernization of our armed forces andensure defence preparedness of the country. Thesuccessful launch of Agni-III Missile and theinduction of BrahMos Missile System into our armedforces constitute major milestones in the upgrade ofour defence technology.

11.2 INTERNAL SECURITY INITIATIVES

• The overall internal security situation remainsunder control. Government is helping States affectedby left wing extremism both on the internal securityand the development and social empowerment fronts.Modernization of the police and security forces andof intelligence gathering systems is receiving highattention of the Government.

• To strengthen internal security, the Governmenthas taken multiple initiatives, which includeenhancing capabilities of the State Police forcesthrough the Police Modernization Scheme, SecurityRelated Expenditure Scheme, strengthening of theborders of the country by way of fencing, flood-

lighting and deployment of electronic surveillancegadgets, and introducing the Coastal SecurityScheme, Operation Swan and the Mega City andDesert Policing components of the policemodernization scheme.

• The UPA Government has approved raising 100battalions to strengthen internal security.

• Modernization of central paramilitary forces hasbeen taken up at an estimated cost of over Rs. 4,000crore.

• Prevention of Terrorism Act has been repealed,while ensuring adequate safeguards against terrorism.

• The UPA Government has approved a schemefor providing assistance to the families of victimsof terrorist violence, including those affected bymilitancy, insurgency, naxalism and communalviolence.

11.3 COMMUNAL HARMONY

• The overall communal situation has remainedunder control and there has been a sharp fall in the

‘Bravehearts of our borders.’

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number of communal incidents.

• The National Integration Council has beenreconstituted and has met after a gap of 12 years.

• The Communal Violence (Prevention, Controland Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill has beenintroduced in Parliament for prevention and controlof communal violence, protection of witnesses,expeditious case disposal, immediate and effectivesteps for relief, rehabilitation and compensation tothe victims of communal violence and expeditiousinvestigation and trial.

• The trend of communalisation of education hasbeen reversed.

11.4 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• A vision for development of an empoweredscience and technology base in the country by theyear 2015 has been prepared. To give effect to this,

the 11th Plan has increased the oultlay for scienceand technology threefold.

• A Nanotechnology Mission has been launched.

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences has been formedto look at planet earth as an entity.

• A major modernization exercise has beenundertaken in the India Meteorology Department.

• India has sent a scientific team to the Arctic for

the first time.

• The Government has announced introduction ofa scheme called Innovation in Science Pursuit forInspired Research (INSPIRE), which will includescholarships for young learners (10-17 years),scholarships for continuing science education (17-22 years) and opportunities for research careers (22-32 years).

• The Government has launched schemes tomotivate scientists of Indian origin to come backand also to leverage the expertise of such scientistsfor growth of R&D in the country.

• A Bioinformatics Network, covering 65institutions all over the country, has been established.

11.5 SPACE PROGRAMME

The Indian space programme has continued its marchtowards achieving self-reliance in space

technology.

• Launch vehicle cryogenic upperstage, space capsule recovery andSupersonic Combustion Ramjettechnological capabilities have beensuccessful ly developed and

demonstrated. India has successfullyundertaken commercial launches of foreign

satellites.

• India’s satellite launch capabilities have beendemonstrated successfully with the placement inorbit of ten satellites with a single launch vehiclemission. Earlier, INSAT-4B – adding DTHtransponder capacity – and INSAT-4CR weresuccessfully launched. CARTOSAT-2 andCARTOSAT-2A have been put in orbit for detailedmap development applications and disastermanagement. India’s first unmanned mission to themoon, Chandrayan-I, is scheduled later this year.

• Our space programme has enabled us to extendtelemedicine, tele-education, telecommunication andother services at home and abroad. About 30,000classrooms have been connected via satellite tovarious institutions and universities, benefiting ruraland remote areas. The satellite-based telemedicine

network has expanded to connect about 223 hospitalsand 41 super speciality hospitals to providehealthcare, especially in rural areas, to about 3,00,000patients every year.

• An Indian Institute of Space Technology hasbeen established with the objective of offering highquality education in space science and technology.

11.6 BROADCASTING

• Some of the important steps taken by PrasarBharati are launch of a new entertainmentprogramme for J&K, round-the-clock Urdu channel,acquisition of right to telecast sports events,digitalization of studios and transmitters andmodernization of satellite broadcast equipment.

• The UPA Government has strengthened All IndiaRadio and Doordarshan services in Jammu andKashmir, Northeast and the island territories.

• FM radio channels have seen a huge expansionfrom only 21 private FM channels four years ago to211 channels by mid-April 2008, and the number isexpected to grow to 266 soon.

• Community radio has been given a major boostthrough a new policy permitting civil societyorganisations to also set up such stations, in additionto only educational institutions permitted earlier.

• The conditional access system has beensuccessfully initiated, to the benefit of the consumer.

• DTH services have rolled out throughDoordarshan as well as private broadcasters.

11.7 TOURISM

• The Incredible India campaign has given a thrustto tourism in India, with foreign tourist arrivalstouching five million for the first time.

• A new scheme of creation of land bank for hotelshas been introduced to help meet the shortage ofhotel accommodation all over the country, especiallyin view of the Commonwealth Games.

• Long-term multi-entry tourist visas of five-year

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number of communal incidents.

• The National Integration Council has beenreconstituted and has met after a gap of 12 years.

• The Communal Violence (Prevention, Controland Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill has beenintroduced in Parliament for prevention and controlof communal violence, protection of witnesses,expeditious case disposal, immediate and effectivesteps for relief, rehabilitation and compensation tothe victims of communal violence and expeditiousinvestigation and trial.

• The trend of communalisation of education hasbeen reversed.

11.4 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• A vision for development of an empoweredscience and technology base in the country by theyear 2015 has been prepared. To give effect to this,

the 11th Plan has increased the oultlay for scienceand technology threefold.

• A Nanotechnology Mission has been launched.

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences has been formedto look at planet earth as an entity.

• A major modernization exercise has beenundertaken in the India Meteorology Department.

• India has sent a scientific team to the Arctic for

the first time.

• The Government has announced introduction ofa scheme called Innovation in Science Pursuit forInspired Research (INSPIRE), which will includescholarships for young learners (10-17 years),scholarships for continuing science education (17-22 years) and opportunities for research careers (22-32 years).

• The Government has launched schemes tomotivate scientists of Indian origin to come backand also to leverage the expertise of such scientistsfor growth of R&D in the country.

• A Bioinformatics Network, covering 65institutions all over the country, has been established.

11.5 SPACE PROGRAMME

The Indian space programme has continued its marchtowards achieving self-reliance in space

technology.

• Launch vehicle cryogenic upperstage, space capsule recovery andSupersonic Combustion Ramjettechnological capabilities have beensuccessful ly developed and

demonstrated. India has successfullyundertaken commercial launches of foreign

satellites.

• India’s satellite launch capabilities have beendemonstrated successfully with the placement inorbit of ten satellites with a single launch vehiclemission. Earlier, INSAT-4B – adding DTHtransponder capacity – and INSAT-4CR weresuccessfully launched. CARTOSAT-2 andCARTOSAT-2A have been put in orbit for detailedmap development applications and disastermanagement. India’s first unmanned mission to themoon, Chandrayan-I, is scheduled later this year.

• Our space programme has enabled us to extendtelemedicine, tele-education, telecommunication andother services at home and abroad. About 30,000classrooms have been connected via satellite tovarious institutions and universities, benefiting ruraland remote areas. The satellite-based telemedicine

network has expanded to connect about 223 hospitalsand 41 super speciality hospitals to providehealthcare, especially in rural areas, to about 3,00,000patients every year.

• An Indian Institute of Space Technology hasbeen established with the objective of offering highquality education in space science and technology.

11.6 BROADCASTING

• Some of the important steps taken by PrasarBharati are launch of a new entertainmentprogramme for J&K, round-the-clock Urdu channel,acquisition of right to telecast sports events,digitalization of studios and transmitters andmodernization of satellite broadcast equipment.

• The UPA Government has strengthened All IndiaRadio and Doordarshan services in Jammu andKashmir, Northeast and the island territories.

• FM radio channels have seen a huge expansionfrom only 21 private FM channels four years ago to211 channels by mid-April 2008, and the number isexpected to grow to 266 soon.

• Community radio has been given a major boostthrough a new policy permitting civil societyorganisations to also set up such stations, in additionto only educational institutions permitted earlier.

• The conditional access system has beensuccessfully initiated, to the benefit of the consumer.

• DTH services have rolled out throughDoordarshan as well as private broadcasters.

11.7 TOURISM

• The Incredible India campaign has given a thrustto tourism in India, with foreign tourist arrivalstouching five million for the first time.

• A new scheme of creation of land bank for hotelshas been introduced to help meet the shortage ofhotel accommodation all over the country, especiallyin view of the Commonwealth Games.

• Long-term multi-entry tourist visas of five-year

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‘Incredible India’

duration have been introduced for nationals of 18countries.

• A five-year income tax holiday has been givento two, three and four star hotels that are establishedin World Heritage Site districts with a view toencourage cultural tourism.

11.8 SPORTS AND YOUTH AFFAIRS

• Preparations for hosting the CommonwealthGames 2010 are in full swing.

• The UPA Government has launched thePanchayat Yuva Khel aur Krida Abhiyan to promotesports and nurture talents at the block and villagelevels by ensuring universal access to basic sportsinfrastructure, a well-established annual sportingcalendar and a National Rural Sports Programme.

• Nehru Yuva Kendras are being set up in all theremaining 123 districts.

• NSS will be strengthened and almost doubledfrom 2.6 million to 5.1 million in the 11th Plan.

11.9 CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

• A new category of classical languages has beencreated and Sanskrit and Tamil have been notified

as classical languages.

• Setting up of a Central Institute of ClassicalTamil at Chennai has been approved to help developTamil as a classical language.

11.10 INDIA POST

Major strides have been made in computerisationprogramme in the last four years and over 8,000post offices have been computerised. New moneyremittance services like iMO and Field Postal Orderhave been launched. eMoney Order is set for launchin 2008. A number of e-enabled services have beenlaunched and more are envisaged.

11.11 ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJANA

Antyodaya Anna Yojana has been expanded to coveradditional one crore households, a rise of 67%.

11.12 BONUS TO WORKERS

• The eligibility limit for payment of bonus toworkers has been raised from Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 10,000per month.

• Workers employed by building contractors havealso been made eligible for payment of bonus.

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‘Incredible India.’

duration have been introduced for nationals of 18countries.

• A five-year income tax holiday has been givento two, three and four star hotels that are establishedin World Heritage Site districts with a view toencourage cultural tourism.

11.8 SPORTS AND YOUTH AFFAIRS

• Preparations for hosting the CommonwealthGames 2010 are in full swing.

• The UPA Government has launched thePanchayat Yuva Khel aur Krida Abhiyan to promotesports and nurture talents at the block and villagelevels by ensuring universal access to basic sportsinfrastructure, a well-established annual sportingcalendar and a National Rural Sports Programme.

• Nehru Yuva Kendras are being set up in all theremaining 123 districts.

• NSS will be strengthened and almost doubledfrom 2.6 million to 5.1 million in the 11th Plan.

11.9 CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

• A new category of classical languages has beencreated and Sanskrit and Tamil have been notified

as classical languages.

• Setting up of a Central Institute of ClassicalTamil at Chennai has been approved to help developTamil as a classical language.

11.10 INDIA POST

Major strides have been made in computerisationprogramme in the last four years and over 8,000post offices have been computerised. New moneyremittance services like iMO and Field Postal Orderhave been launched. eMoney Order is set for launchin 2008. A number of e-enabled services have beenlaunched and more are envisaged.

11.11 ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJANA

Antyodaya Anna Yojana has been expanded to coveradditional one crore households, a rise of 67%.

11.12 BONUS TO WORKERS

• The eligibility limit for payment of bonus toworkers has been raised from Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 10,000per month.

• Workers employed by building contractors havealso been made eligible for payment of bonus.

63

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Page 71: UPA Achievements in India

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