NEW DELHI: The United Progressive Alliance Government's "Report to the People" has taken stock of its achievements during the last three years in improving the social and economic conditions of the people; creating infrastructure in both urban and rural areas; building a harmonious society and in the conduct of foreign policy.

On women's reservation, it noted that a draft bill had been prepared and efforts were on for building consensus by holding meetings with all Opposition parties, the UPA constituents, women's groups and other stakeholders.

On the administrative front, the report mentioned the reforms process and said the government was considering launching a new scheme to strengthen the anti-corruption infrastructure with special focus on capacity building at all levels for effectively combating the evil in coordination with the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the State Governments, industry associations and non-governmental bodies.

A Group of Ministers was looking into some amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act including forfeiture of property of corrupt public servants, a provision for a competent authority to grant sanction in respect of MPs and MLAs and granting the protection of previous sanction to public servants who retired or ceased to be public servants.

A new Commission on Centre-State relations was notified, and the States were getting more funds under the new scheme of tax devolution.

Internal security

On internal security, the report said that following the Government's appeal to militant groups to give up violence and hold talks without conditions, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), the United People's Democratic Solidarity, the Dima Halam Daoga, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NB), the A'chik National Volunteers' Council and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland entered into agreements for suspension of operations. Talks were being held with all of them except the NSCN(K).

The report takes a look at healthcare put in place under the ambitious National Rural Health Mission, a scheme to have a voluntary trained community health worker in every village and the focus on tackling HIV/AIDS. The Government had introduced bills to prevent the growth of sub-standard colleges by making it mandatory to seek the Centre's prior permission for establishing new colleges and starting new and higher courses in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy.

On the education front, the report said the total allocation rose to Rs.32,352 crore in 2007-08, a 34 per cent increase over the previous year, with the allocation for school education going up by 35 per cent and for secondary education doubled to Rs. 3,794 crore.

The Government prepared a Model Right to Education Bill for adoption by the States to give effect to the fundamental right to education. It stepped up the allocation for the mid-day meal scheme more than five-fold to Rs. 7,324 crore in 2007-08.

An institutional focus was given to assure rights of children through measures such as setting up a National Commission, amending the Juvenile Justice Act and finalising a bill to deal with offences against children including sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact.

The Government prohibited employment of children as domestic servants or in roadside eateries, restaurants and teashops.

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