Success of Vajpayee Gov,5 yrs later

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASES

March 20, 2003

 

Five years of NDA governance sets the country on resurgent path

The country gained on all fronts.

Inadequacies and Distortions being corrected.

Confident of people's support to complete the unfinished tasks.

 

Statement of the BJP President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on the

completion of 5 years of NDA Government at the Centre : -

 

"The Five Years of National Democratic Alliance Government led by

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has laid firm foundations for a resurgent

India through several innovative and far sighted initiatives in

various critical sectors of the economy besides restoring the much

wanted political balance in the body polity. The BJP with all

humility takes pride in being instrumental in heralding a new era in

making the country a developed nation through multi-dimensional

initiatives at the national level. The BJP extends warm felicitations

to the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the leaders of

BJP and other NDA partners for enabling a stable and forward looking

Government which has made significant strides towards fulfilling the

aspirations of 100 crore Indians.

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party has sincerely endeavoured to provide a

genuine political alternative to the people of India who have been

languishing under the single party political dominance since

independence and the NDA has proved to be the effective solution

exploding the myth of there being no alternative to the Congress

Party. National Democratic Alliance has emerged as the embodiment of

the true federal spirit of the Indian Union by effectively

harmonizing the regional aspirations with national perspectives. This

is a significant accomplishment in terms of participatory governance

with long term positive implications for political stability. The

mature and visionary leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has

succeeded in cementing the nation into a cohesive entity yearning to

realize its potential.

 

The political stability provided by the NDA Government comes out in

clear contrast in the backdrop of several short-lived non-Congress

governments at the Centre in the recent past which has further

accentuated the frustrations of the majority of the countrymen

looking for a non-Congress alternative. The BJP will continue to play

its central and constructive role in channelizing the constructive

energies of the people of the country in the direction of making the

country a developed nation, so that the country can get its much

deserved place in the comity of nations in the near future. Besides

the political gains to the nation the broad economic consolidation

and the initiatives in infrastructure and social sectors have

imparted a new sense of purpose and dynamism laying firm foundations

for a strong and resurgent India.

 

The massive infrastructure projects taken up by the NDA Government

including the Golden Quadrilateral and the North South and East West

corridor projects, the strategic railway projects under National Rail

Vikas Yojana, Rural Roads Programme under the Prime Minister's Gram

Sadak Yojana are proving to be the much desired launch vehicles for

building a new India. These initiatives have emerged as the necessary

course correction for the distortions that crept into the country's

developmental approach with the potential to enhance the country's

competitiveness in the context of globalisation. These schemes are

also a vindication of NDA Government's keenness to redifine the

Government's role as an enabler to harness the inherent capabilities

of the Indian farmers, the entrepreneurs and the people at large.

 

The revolutionary transformation in the communications sector has

already made a significant difference. The ability to connect to the

world is the key to exploit the emerging opportunities in the

globalizing world which brings out the significance of telephone

connectivity to more than 5 lakh villages provided by the NDA

Government. The major achievement of the NDA Government has been to

transform the Indian economic scenario from that of shortages to

surplus in several respects. The frustrating scenario of long ques

and waiting lists for basic needs like telephones and LPG connections

is a matter of past.

 

The broader economic consolidation despite adverse national and

international environment during the last five years is no mean

achievement. Despite frequent natural disasters negatively impacting

agricultural production, inflation has been contained at a remarkable

low of 3% through effective management of the Public Distribution

System and foodgrain stocks. The foreign exchange reserves have

doubled to a record 75 billion dollars strengthening the external

value of the rupee. Depreciation of currency has registered the

lowest in the last five years. Various sectors of the economy have

started showing up and the NDA Government has demonstrated its

commitment to improve fiscal management through various legislative

and administrative initiatives.

 

The NDA Government deserved kudos particularly for the much needed

thrust on rural development and agriculture. There is a new-found

sense of reassurance and belonging in the rural areas of the country

following a host of programmes taken up at the behest of the Central

Government. The interest of the people in rural roads programme going

by the growing demand for these projects is something to be seen to

be believed. The massive Food for Work programme under which more

than 65 lakh tons of foodgrains have so far been released by the NDA

Government for employment generation, Antyodaya Anna Yojana under

which 1.5 crore families of the poorest of poor are being supplied

with foodgrains, are some of the illustrations of NDA Government's

commitment to the welfare of rural masses. The Government has

significantly moved forward in empowering the local communities

through decentralization of powers, functions and funds to enable

their participation in decision making. Linking of rivers is yet

another major initiative of the Government to fully utilize the

potential of river waters.

 

The Vajpayee Government is keen to reverse the declining trend of

public investments in agriculture to enable it withstand the WTO

challenges. Creation of cold storage chains and rural warehousing

facilities, input supply, crop insurance scheme, etc., are indicative

initiatives. While only Rs.2,200 crore have been paid as crop

insurance between 1985 and 1998 to farmers, the NDA Government

enabled payment of crop insurance of about Rs.1700 crores in two

years under the restructured National Agricultural Insurance Scheme

launched in the year 2000. The NDA Government has been adapting a

clear cut and focused strategy in the ongoing WTO negotiations on

Agreement on Agriculture preparatory to the Cancun Conference later

this year to protect the interests of the Indian farmers.

 

The NDA Government has been focusing on empowerment and development

of weaker sections of the society and backward regions. To coordinate

the developmental efforts in a targeted manner, special Departments

have been created for the development of the North Eastern Region and

for Tribal Welfare. The concerns of Scheduled Castes have been

addressed to by nullifying five Office Memoranda issued by the

previous Government in respect of promotions. For the first time

since 1976, the list of Scheduled Castes has been revised and updated

including 100 more communities in the SC category. The Prime Minister

has been taking a keen interest in ensuring reservation for women in

Legislatures. A Bill in this regard is soon likely to be introduced

in the Parliament.

 

The NDA Government has succeeded in awakening the global community to

the emerging threat of cross-border terrorism through sustained

diplomatic efforts. Of particular significance is the Government's

ability to focus the global attention on terrorism instead of the

Kashmir issue. The Vajpayee Government demonstrated its commitment to

the cause of democratic action in Jammu & Kashmir and the successful

conduct of elections in the State has brought about a radical change

in the world's view about the Central Government's approach towards

the Kashmir issue. The Government has also been successful in weaning

away the Kashmiri youth from the path of terrorism and whatever the

trouble being fomented in the valley is only by the outsiders. The

efficient and mature conduct of foreign policy has succeeded in

rallying support for India's point of view on Kashmir besides

restoring the country's prestige and standing in the comity of

nations. The peaceful conduct of elections recently in some North

Eastern States is an eloquent testimony of India's commitment to

development in a peaceful and democratic manner. The NDA Government's

initiatives to resolve the strife in Nagaland are being well

received.

 

The BJP always believed in a strong and self-reliant India capable of

defending its economic and sovereign interests for which adequate

defence capabilities are an essential pre-requisite. Reiterating our

commitments as a peace loving nation, the NDA Government has

successfully undertaken the Pokhran tests. Misgivings in this regard

have been adequately addressed to through necessary diplomatic

efforts. The BJP firmly believes that the Pokhran tests have added to

the country's standing as a nation with adequate ability to protect

its interests.

 

The words and deeds of the NDA Government have always underscored the

Constitutional principle of equality of all citizens. The BJP firmly

believes that peace and communal harmony are essential foundations

for rapid economic development. The Five Year Rule of NDA Government

is marked by remarkable decline in communal incidents. The BJP is

guided only by the objective of national reconstruction and not by

electoral considerations. BJP believes in winning over the support of

the masses by sincerely endeavouring to fulfill their aspirations

through people oriented governance.

 

The last five years of NDA Government has come as a major relief to

the countrymen dejected by political instability, lack of purpose,

waning self-respect and dignity, distorted priorities and neglect of

the rural masses and their needs and a sense of being left behind in

the fast moving world. The NDA Government has begun to effectively

address all these concerns. The countrymen have begun to feel the

difference. Five year term is insignificant when compared to 45 year

rule of Congress. The NDA Government is conscious of the tasks and

challenges ahead in placing India at par with the best in the world.

Going by the account of the difference in the approach and attitude

that the NDA Government has been able to bring about, the BJP firmly

believes that the masses will continue to repose faith in NDA in the

next Lok Sabha elections.

 

Development is our Mantra. Development, Faster Development and

Balanced Development is our strategy. Making India a developed nation

by 2020 is the dream of our Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

and also of his countrymen. BJP is committed to make it a reality

with people's support."

 

Some of the major initiatives and accomplishments

of the NDA Government

 

Telecom and IT Sector

 

Ø Significant reduction in tariffs as a result of reforms and

promotion of competition.

Ø Villages with telephone connectivity increased by two lakhs in the

last five years while only three lakh villages were connected till

1998.

Ø Telephone density doubled to 4.5%.

Ø PCOs increased from 4.2 lakhs in 1998 to about 12 lakhs now.

Ø Telephone connection available on demand.

Ø Internet revolution spreading through out the country.

Ø IT sector accounts for 18% of country's total exports.

Ø IT industry creating several lakh employment opportunities for the

youth.

Ø Country recognized as a leader in IT sector.

Power Sector

 

Ø All villages to be electrified by 2007 and all households by 2017.

Ø About 20,000 MW additional capacity generation added during the

last five years.

Ø 399 Hydel Schemes identified with aggregate capacity of 1,70,000 MW.

Ø Reforms being promoted through accelerated power development

programme.

Ø Integrated transmission system network launched to transfer more

than 30,000 MW of power from the surplus to deficit regions.

Roads Sector

 

Ø National Highway Development project launched in 1999 for building

14,146 KM of world-class highways at a cost of Rs.54,000 crore.

Ø Completion of Golden Quadrilateral will alone result in a saving of

Rs.8,000 crore per year besides generating 18 crore mandays of

employment.

Ø 1.6 lakh unconnected villages to be linked by all weather roads at

a cost of Rs.60,000 crore.

Energy Security

 

Ø The waiting list of 1.10 crore for LPG connections liquidated.

Ø 3.5 crore connections released as against 3.37 crore made available

in the previous 40 years.

Ø Oil exploration intensified and 10 new discoveries made.

Social Sectors

 

Ø Sarvasiksha Abhiyan launched to cover all the children in 6-14 age

group.

Ø Right to Education provided for all the children in 6-14 age group.

Ø 1100 more schools provided under vocational education programme and

587 districts covered under National Literacy Mission.

Ø A National Health Policy approved with stronger governmental

commitment for primary health care and greater encouragement for

private sector participation in secondary and tertiary health care.

Ø Over six lakh low paid workers exempted from contribution to ESI

Scheme.

Ø Integrated Child Development Services being extended to all the

5,652 Blocks of the country.

Ø Allocations for rural water supply programme increased by 30%.

Ø Concessional ration facility increased from 10 Kgs. Cereals per

person to 35 Kgs. Per person for 36 crore people living below the

poverty line.

Ø Kisan Credit Cards launched and about 2.5 crore farmers being

extended credit of about Rs.50,000 crores through these cards.

Ø Total credit flow to agriculture sector increased to about

Rs.1,75,000 crores.

Ø For the first time 28 agricultural export zones being set up with

an investment of Rs.781 crore.

Ø For the first time transport assistance is being provided for

export of many agricultural commodities.