| The programme is set to be launched on today by the prime minister from Anantpur district in Andhra Pradesh. |
| At the same time, Singh ruled out any chances of hiking the tax-burden on the salaried class for funding these ambitious programmes. |
| "We believe in a moderate but broad based tax structure. We do not believe in coercive taxation," he said. |
| If the economy continued to grow at 7 to 8 per cent, then the country "will have a sufficient resource base from which such programmes will be financed," he added. |
| He was speaking at the second national press conference of the prime minister here today. Also in the PM's list of achievements are significant significant social legislation of the government including the Right to information Act and the rural health mission. |
| The Right to Information Act, which was cleared by Parliament would have "a revolutionary implication" on good governance and transparency, he said. |
| Commending the Rural Health Mission, he said it was a significant leap towards guaranteed primary health care to all in the rural areas. |
| He added that the launching of the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) programme in 63 cities and the earmarking of Rs 1,74,000 crore for the Bharat Nirman scheme, aimed at rural infrastructure development, were the other highlights of his government. |
| Singh mentioned the present growth rate and the savings rate of 29 per cent as some of the other accomplishments of the UPA government. |
| "If our savings rate continues to grow and goes up by even 4-5 per cent, it may add upto 1 per cent growth to the overall GDP, which will make take us to the 10 per cent GDP growth rate," he said. |
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