RECOGNITION: Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat presenting Bharat Asmita Jana Jagran Shrestha award for 2006 to Barkha Dutt in New Delhi. Photo: V. V. Krishnan

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the increasing gap between the rich and those below the poverty line, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Saturday stressed the need for introducing poverty alleviation programmes.

Mr. Shekhawat urged the youth to go to villages to see that Government funds were reaching the "right people" so that suicide by farmers in States such as Maharashtra could be checked.

"The fundamental right of the poor to live with dignity is being ignored at every step. Poverty is a major challenge today and the student community can be a big help. It can travel to villages where farmers' suicides are taking place and see that Central funds are reaching the intended people and not falling into wrong hands," said the Vice President at Bharat Asmita National Awards 2007 ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan here. Warning the policy framers and the Fourth Estate that if timely steps were not immediately taken to uplift the poor, social unrest could break out, Mr. Shekhawat said: "Poverty is on increase in the country and if measures are not taken to eradicate it, the existence of our four traditional pillars -- legislative, executive, judiciary and media -- would be under challenge.'' He also said those running the country need to ensure that schemes such as free food grains through the Public Distribution System were efficaciously implemented. At the ceremony, the Bharat Asmita Jana Pratinidhi Shrestha (Special Award) 2007 was conferred on Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while the Bharat Asmita Jana Jagran Shrestha (Special Award) was given to Hindi film director Rajkumar Hirani.

Congress Member of Parliament Jyotiraditya Scindia was given Bharat Asmita Jana Pratinidhi Shrestha; Director of Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) Prakash Apte was given Bharat Asmita Acharya Shrestha; while Indian Express Group Chief Executive Officer Shekhar Gupta was presented Bharat Asmita Jana Jagran Shrestha.

Noted television journalist Barkha Dutt was presented the Bharat Asmita Jana Jagran Shrestha award for 2006.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail