VAJPAYEE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS

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VAJPAYEE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS

 

 

New Strategy to double food production

 

 

A bold initiative has been taken by the Government to launch a

regionally differentiated strategy, based on agro-climate regional

planning, taking into account the agronomic, climatic and

environmental conditions to realize the full potential of growth in

every region, narrow down regional and crop imbalances to accelerate

the growth in every region and thus to ensure food and nutritional

security. The Plan is to double the food production and make India

hunger free in ten years.

 

 

Foodgrains quantity doubled under TPDS

 

 

The quantity of foodgrains being distributed to the Below Poverty

Line (BPL) section of the population under the Targeted Public

Distribution System (TPDS) has been doubled from 10 kg. per family

per month to 20 kg. per family per month at 50 percent of the

economic cost. The scheme, with its focus on the poor, benefits about

33 crore people belonging to the poorer section of the society.

 

 

Allocation for R&D raised

 

 

The Government has decided to raise the allocation for Research and

Development in science and technology to 2 percent of Gross Domestic

Product (GDP). It will be raised from the present 0.7 percent to 1

percent during the current year itself and will be gradually raised

to 2 percent in next five years.

 

 

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited formed

 

 

The corporatisation of telecom services has been done and Bharat

Sanchar Nigam Limited has been formed since October 1, 2000 by the

Government. The telephone rs are expected to benefit by the

proposed structural change to corporatisation.

 

 

In addition to this, National Long Distance (NLD) telephony has been

opened for private participation. The Government has announced the

guidelines for entry of private sector in NLD Sector without any

restriction on the number of operators.

 

 

Three new states formed

 

 

Three new States of Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal have been

formed after approval by the Parliament. These new States will come

into existence by November 1, 2000. All formalities like selection of

capital towns and High courts for the new States will be finalised by

this date.

 

 

Chhatisgarh is being carved out of Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal will

consist of the Hill Districts of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand will

comprise of areas of Southern Bihar.

 

 

Prime Minister's visit to the United States

 

 

Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to the United States

paved the way for a qualitatively new and closer relationship between

two of the world's largest democracies. It underlined a regular, wide

ranging dialogue for achieving the goal of establishing closer and

multifaceted relations between the two countries and to work jointly

for promotion of peace, prosperity, democracy and freedom in the 21

st century.

 

 

President Clinton visits India

 

 

President Clinton's visit to India in March 2000 - the first by a US

President in more than two decades - opened a new chapter in

bilateral relations. Prime Minister Va jpayee and President Clinton

outlined a vision of a closer and qualitatively new relationship

between the two countries. They also agreed on an architecture of

wide-ranging institutional dialogue as a means to pursue the new

relationship.

 

 

Declaration of strategic partnership with Russia

 

 

During Russian President Shri Vladimir Putin's visit to India, a

declaration of strategic partnership was signed between the two

countries to develop a common approach towards enhanced defence

cooperation, promotion of regional stability and for creation of

multi-polar world order. Both sides confirmed their adherence to the

common ideals of peace, democracy, rule of law, human rights and

fundamental freedoms, non-violence and secularism. There would be

enhanced cooperation in various fields like Political, Defence, Trade

and Economy, Science and Technology and Culture etc.

 

 

Greater understanding with International Community

 

 

Consequent to Indian efforts, the international community also

demonstrated greater understanding of the dangers to regional and

international stability and security from the growth of obscurantist

ideologies, terrorism and narcotics in the Taliban areas of

Afghanistan and the support to these forces from Pakistan. Both

Pakistan and Afghanistan are now widely acknowledged as centres of

international terrorism.

 

 

Export House Status to Tourism

 

 

Government has taken the decision to accord Export House Status to

Tourism. With this, Tourism and Travel Industry now have the benefit

of special import licence, waiver of bank guarantee for exports,

exemption of Income-Tax for reinvestment in tourism projects.

 

 

The Department of Tourism has been clubbed with the Department of

Culture to ensure coordinated approach for the promotion of tourism

and projection of rich Indian heritage and culture.

 

 

Shelter for all under Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana

 

 

A new initiative of 'Rural Housing' has been taken under Pradhan

Mantri Gramodaya Yojana to achieve the objective of sustainable human

development at village level. An allocation of Rs.1710 crores has

been made for 2000-2001 to implement the Action Plan, which has the

objective of conversion of all unserviceable kutcha houses to

pucca/semi-pucca houses by the end of Tenth Plan. Government has

targetted construction of about 25 lakh houses annually in rural

areas.

 

 

Potable water in all rural habitations

 

 

Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana has been launched to make potable

drinking water available in all habitations in the country. A

comprehensive Action Plan for covering all rural areas has already

been prepared. In order to institutionalise community participation

in rural water supply programmes, projects are to be made community

based. Budget for Rural Water Supply Programme has been enhanced from

Rs. 1 ,800 crores of 1999-2000 to Rs. 1, 960 crores in 2000-2001.

 

 

Composite Regional Centres for persons with disabilities

 

 

Five Composite Regional Research Centres are being set up in

different parts of the country for providing services to persons with

disabilities. An outlay of Rs. 16.89 crore has been approved for the

Centres. Centres at Srinagar and Lucknow have started functioning and

those at Sundar Nagar (H.P), Bangalore and Guwahati are being set up.

 

 

The proposed centres would serve as Resource Centres for

rehabilitation and special education of persons with disabilities and

develop strategies for delivery of rehabilitation services suitable

to the socio-cultural background of the region. The centres will also

undertake designing, fabrication and fitment of aids and appliances.

 

 

Massive National Highway improvement programme

 

 

The Government has embarked upon a massive National Highway

improvement programme in the country. The programme envisages 4/6

laning of 13,250 kms of national highways comprising the Golden

Quadrilateral (GQ), connecting the four Metros and the North-South

and East-West corridors.

 

 

The Golden Quadrilateral portion is expected to be completed by 2003

and the whole National Highway Development Project is to be completed

by 2009. Expenditure of about Rs.1641 crore has been incurred on

National Highway Development Project upto August 31, 2000. Till now

588 km. of Golden Quadrilateral and 628 km. of North-South and East-

West corridor has been four--laned.

 

 

Restructuring of Steel Authority of India Ltd.

 

 

A landmark decision in the history of Public Sector Undertakings has

been the business and financial restructuring package for Steel

Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL). The package included waiver of loan

from Steel Development Fund and the Government of India, provision of

Government guarantees to raise loan to enable the implementation of

Voluntary Retirement Scheme and repayment of past obligations and

divestment of its non-core assets while protecting jobs of existing

employees.

 

 

A detailed MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Steel and SAIL

incorporating milestones for the implementation. Restructuring plan

is in progress and some of the milestones have already been

accomplished.

 

 

Record growth in exports

 

 

India's export growth rate during the year 1999-2000 has been 11.6

percent in dollar terms, thus exceeded the target of 11.3 percent set

for the year. This was possible on account of various policy

initiatives taken by the Government.

 

 

The growth rate of exports for the period April-July 2000 was 25.43

percent in US dollar terms, which was much higher than the target of

18 percent set for the year 2000-2001.

 

 

Largest ever increase in Defence Budge'

 

 

The allocation on Defence for current financial year has been raised

to Rs.55,587 crore showing an increase of nearly Rs.13,000 crore,

representing the largest ever increase in Defence Budget.

 

 

Janashree Bima Yojana for the poor

 

 

A new group insurance scheme Janashree Bima Yojana has been launched

to benefit the people below poverty line as well as those marginally

above the poverty line.

 

 

The beneficiaries will have an insurance cover of Rs.20,000 in case

of natural death, Rs.50,000 for accidental death or permanent

disability and Rs.25,000 for partial permanent disability. Monthly

premium will be Rs.10 or less.

 

 

Cable TV Act amended

 

 

Cable Television Act, and Rules under this Act were amended to stop

the transmission of the pirated films, obscene prorammes or channels,

advertisements of tobacco, liquor and infant milk products on cable.

States have been requested to implement the amended provisions. This

will ensure orderly development of Cable Networks within the legal

framework. Banning of obscene programmes and prohibition of

advertising for alcohol, tobacco and infant milk substitutes are

important for social development in the country.

 

 

Second Generation Economic Reforms

 

 

The Second generation of economic reforms to broaden and deepen the

ongoing economic reform process is firmly on the rails. The GDP

growth rate reached 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter of the last

fiscal year. The major strides in the reform process have been the

passing of the Insurance Bill, Forex Management Bill and Securities

Laws Bill. A Competition Policy and privatization of Public Sector

Undertakings to infuse efficiency and dynamism is in the offing.

 

 

Steps to bring back normalcy in J&K

 

 

The Government is continuing with its four-pronged strategy to

counter terrorist and separatist violence in J&K by deepening the

democratic process, accelerating economic development, isolating

foreign mercenaries and terrorists and playing a pro-active role to

neutralize them.