Patil calls for efficient implementation of social welfare programmes

New Delhi, Jan 25 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday said that there is tremendous work to be done to move forward on our social and economic agenda, if we are to achieve fast, inclusive and sustainable growth.

Addressing the nation on the eve of 63rd Republic Day, President Patil said all social welfare programmes must be implemented efficiently to remove poverty, hunger and malnutrition, disease and illiteracy.

Asking the agencies involved in the delivery of services to have a strong sense of duty and work in a transparent, corruption free, time bound and accountable manner, President Patil cautioned that tremendous work remains to be done to move forward on country's social and economic agenda.

Asserting that we have a population which is predominantly young, President Patil said: "With education and training, they can become skilled and, thus, capable of finding their livelihoods, starting their own businesses and thus, becoming productive assets."

"Reinforcing our health and education sectors is fundamental for developing our human resources. Primary education is now a fundamental right for children," she added.

Calling for integration of agriculture, industry and service sectors for their efficient working, President Patil, however, expressed concern that agriculture is one sector of the economy, which remains inadequate.

"Agriculture, however, is one sector whose integration with other sectors of the economy remains inadequate. We need to look at models of partnership, of farmers with industry and with R andD institutions in various activities, so that, not only does agricultural productivity increase, but farmers benefit as well," said President Patil.

"Special focus is necessary on dryland farming, given its enormous potential and, the fact that, a large proportion of farm labour and poor farmers are dependent on it. At the same time, it is very important to build our physical infrastructure - such as roads, ports and airports, to overcome constraints to rapid growth," she added.

Talking about women empowerment, President Patil said: "I strongly believe that women need to be drawn fully into the national mainstream. Empowerment of women will have a very big impact on creating social structures that are stable."

" The National Mission on Empowerment of Women set up in 2010 should help in the co-coordinated delivery of women-centric and women-related programmes. An important component of women's development is their economic and social security. Social prejudices prevalent in our society, which have led to gender discrimination, need to be corrected. Social evils like female foeticide, child marriage and dowry must be eradicated. Status of women is an important indicator of progress in a society," she added.

Referring to India 's foreign policy, President Patil said that India is building bridges of cooperation and friendship with all countries of the world.

"We seek to build bridges of cooperation and friendship with all countries of the world. We constructively engage with the international community to find responses to global challenges. The role and stature of India, has been growing and our nation has been scaling up in the ladder of the comity of nations," said President Patil.

"India seeks an architecture for global institutions that is more reflective of contemporary realities. We are also proud of the contributions of the Indian Diaspora, spread over many countries and across continents, to the economic, professional and political fields of the countries where they live," she added. (ANI)