Presidential address focuses on farm and rural sector

In his customary address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, President Pranab Mukherjee today outlined the government policy and measures towards the farm and rural sectors as well as to spur job growth. The President’s address, which is approved by the union cabinet, is seen as a precursor to the template that the government is likely to follow in the General Budget, to be presented a week hence.

The President of India customarily delivers a speech to the joint sitting of Parliament on the first day that Parliament convenes for the Budget session, the first session of a New Year. In an over an hour long speech, the President said the guiding principles of his government were – progress for the poor, prosperity for farmers and jobs for youth.

Given that the last two sessions of Parliament were a washout because of Opposition protests, the President said “democratic temper calls for debate and discussion and not disruption or obstruction”. He “urged” all Members of Parliament to discharge their responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation.

The President’s 20 page speech devoted much time on the government’s efforts towards poverty eradication, efforts to revive the farm sector, creating infrastructure in the rural areas, housing for all and job growth.

He also enumerated the government’s achievements in power sector and road construction and said the ‘Make in India’ programme of the government has achieved 39 per cent increase in FDI (foreign direct investment) inflows despite adverse global investment climate. “India is a haven of stability in an increasingly turbulent global economy. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth has increased making India the world’s fastest growing economy among large economies. Inflation, fiscal deficit and current account deficit have all decreased. India recorded the highest ever foreign exchange reserves in 2015,” he said.

Detailing the government’s efforts for the farm sector and rural areas, the President said as many as 15 crore accounts under the Jan Dhan Yojana have been opened with cumulative deposits of Rs 32,000 crore and how the scheme has become a platform for poverty eradication. The Direct Benefit Transfer scheme has been extended to 42 central schemes and covers 15 crore beneficiaries while food security coverage has doubled to cover 68 crore people.

To help farmers get better price for their produce, the President said the government is taking steps for an e-market platform by connecting 585 regulated wholesale markets. Mukherjee said the sugarcane arrears have been brought down from Rs 21,000 crore to Rs 720 core. He said ‘Soil Health Cards’ will be distributed to all 14 crore farm-holdings by March, 2017. About the new urea policy, the President said it would lead to additional production of 17 Lakh metric tonnes annually in the next three years. He said providing 100 per cent neem-coated urea has  improved efficiency.

Mukherjee said 62 lakh people have voluntarily surrendered their LPG connections under the ‘Give it Up’ scheme, which has enabled fresh connections to 50 lakh poor families. The President said Rs one lakh crore worth of loans to 2.6 crore people have been disbursed under the MUDRA scheme, of which 2.06 crore are women.

The President said Rs 18,000 crore will be invested in the textile industry in the next 7 years towards upgrading of technology and 76 lakh persons have been trained under the ‘Skill India’ programme. Mukherjee said 2534 most backward blocks have been identified for constructing ‘aanganwadi’ buildings in the next four years under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). He said Rs 3,000 crore of central outlay is helping the country achieve a blue revolution in fisheries sector.

Mukherjee said under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme 1.82 lakh village enterprises will be created and strengthened in 125 Blocks across 24 States creating employment for about 3.78 lakh persons. As part of the Namami Gange Programme, the government is implementing several projects in all 118 cities and complete sanitation solutions for 1,649 gram panchayats, on the banks of the holy Ganga. He said the government has identified construction of 4,25,00 houses in 2011 townships in 27 states in its ‘housing for all’ scheme and Rs 24,600 crore has been sanctioned.

In the power sector, the President said installed solar capacity has almost doubled in the last 20 months and crossed 5000 MW. He said energy shortages have been reduced from 4 per cent to 2.3 per cent since the government took over in May 2014. He said 83 per cent of the capacity addition target of 88,537 MW for the 12th Plan period has already been achieved. Mukherjee said the ‘Available Transfer Capacity’ for South India has increased by 71 per centfrom May, 2014 to December, 2015, resulting in cheaper power. He said India, in the year 2015, witnessed the highest ever generation of electricity.  The President said over 6 crore LED bulbs have been distributed, and the cost of each bulb is down from Rs 310 a year back to Rs 64 now.

He said Coal India Limited’s coal production has witnessed a record 9.8 per cent growth, the highest ever output of coal and reduced imports. Mukherjee said the Railways achieved its highest ever capital expenditure in 2015.  

He said, by March 2019, under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana 1.78 rural habitations will be connected with all weather roads. The government, the President said, has revived a majority of the 73 stalled road projects, completed construction of 7,200 km of highways and awarded 12,900 km of highway projects which is the highest ever number of new highway kilometers awarded. He said Rs 2.67 lakh crore have been allocated for national highways under the Bharatmala scheme. The President said that under the Indradhanush programme has been launched to revitalize public sector banks and ensure credit flow in the economy, with committed minimum recapitalization of Rs 70,000 crore.