Guest guest Posted April 7, 2001 Report Share Posted April 7, 2001 VAJPAYEE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS 13th October 1999 -- 12th October 2000 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.