The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Ensure equitable growth’

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Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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‘Ensure equitable growth’

Special Correspondent

— Photo: PTI

President Pratibha Patil addresses the nation on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: President Pratiba Patil said on Tuesday that “we have to ensure equitable growth for all,” and invited countrymen to “look ahead to the glorious path of infinite possibilities that await India with open arms.”

In her first Independence Day-eve address to the nation, Ms. Patil said, “we must ensure that we do not let this unprecedented moment in time go unutilised for the dream of a strong, robust and prosperous India.”

Ms. Patil revealed a preference for a secular, democratic and inclusive India. “Inherent respect for pluralism has been the golden thread which has run through our millennia-old civilisation,” she said.

Noting the thriving of democracy through trials and tribulations, the President said that “it continues to be the bounden duty of every citizen to ensure that the system of parliamentary democracy grows from strength to strength.”

Applauding democratic decentralisation and participative decision-making at the grassroots, she pointed out “it is equally important to provide a morally superior and clean administration. This would empower every citizen to enjoy the real fruits of democracy.”

Stressing the need to foster an environment of cooperative federalism and collective pursuit of national goals, Ms. Patil said: “we must strive to maximise our collective performance so as to build a nation of equal opportunities.”

While Ms. Patil took note of “commendable economic progress,” steady industrial growth and sound foreign exchange reserves, she noted that the balance sheet of achievements would reveal “more pluses than minuses.” Nonetheless, she was clear that “we have to take special care to bring in egalitarian reforms to ensure that the full benefit of economic liberalisation reaches people at all levels.”

On the agricultural front, the President invited scientists, administrators and entrepreneurs to find ways of meeting “the challenges that beset the agricultural front and tackle distressful situation faced by farmers in some pockets of the country.”

Ms. Patil ended her address by invoking Swami Vivekanada’s “immortal clarion call” to fellow-citizens to “Arise, Awake and Stop not till the goal is reached.”

Independent India at 60

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