The Hindu : Lead the poor to prosperity: Kalam

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Friday, Dec 12, 2003

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Lead the poor to prosperity: Kalam

By Our Special Correspondent

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, presenting a memento to the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, Najma Heptullah, at a function to commemorate the 200th session of the Rajya Sabha at the Central Hall of the Parliament House in New Delhi on Thursday. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, looks on. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI DEC 11. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today asked the Rajya Sabha to " combat the poverty of 260 million people out of one billion and to lead them to prosperity and bring a smile on their face" as a mission.

The President's remarks came during his inaugural address in the Central Hall of Parliament, at a function organised to celebrate the 200th session of the Raja Sabha.

"All of us have to work together to create a conducive atmosphere for unhindered progress of developmental activities," he said at the meeting attended by the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, Najma Heptullah, and other important leaders.

He honoured Dr. Heptullah for being the longest serving Deputy Chairperson of the House, and several MPs who had attended more than 100 sessions. Prominent among those honoured were, Pranab Mukherjee, Saroj Kharpade, and Mulka Govinda Reddy, for their long and distinguished service to the House. Bhupesh Gupta, Sitaram Kesri and B.V. Abdulla Koya were honoured posthumously. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kalam stressed the need for cohesiveness in the working of the different departments of the Government. " The Ministries, Departments, States, should be able to work cohesively in a borderless way for each mission, in much the same way as Internet, Intranet and Extranet all work in a coalition of convenience to create virtual organisations."

The President dwelt on the need for greater tolerance and the need for faster economic development in certain States. Referring to the recent job-related violence in certain parts of the country, he said:" If committed people have to work selflessly, we have to ensure their safety. Freedom to move, freedom to think and freedom to express are ingrained in the freedom to live, and enshrined in the Constitution."

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, releasing a commemorative postage stamp, recalled with some nostalgia his time in the House of Elders and said " I miss the camaraderie and the cerebral exchanges." Much to the amusement of the gathering Mr. Vajpayee said his party sent him to the Upper House after he lost the Lok Sabha elections.

The Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who inaugurated the web casting of the Rajya Sabha proceedings said the Constitution provided a unique role to the House as it provided representation to the States.

The Speaker, Manohar Joshi, described the occasion as a milestone in the journey of democracy and said: " The Rajya Sabha plays the role of the guardian of the interest of the States."

Dr. Heptullah described the day as a landmark for the Rajya Sabha.

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