Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday welcomed President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the joint session of Parliament in New Delhi, saying it had raised expectations on performance and delivery against the ambitious goals that the Centre had set for itself.
Stating that the address “fully recognised the hopes and expectations of the electorate,” she lauded the emphasis laid on reaching out to the poor, ushering in industrial development, stress on inclusive spirit and cooperative federalism.
In a statement, she said the entire range of key sectors and important issues facing the nation were covered. The priority accorded to improving rural infrastructure was “appropriate” and the focus on increasing private and public investment in agriculture and water conservation was timely.
Breaking down the divide between formal education and skill development was a progressive idea and the emphasis on sports in holistic education was welcome.
The ‘Swachch Bharat Mission’ aimed at providing toilet to every household by 2019, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, was a noble gesture. In that context, Ms. Jayalalithaa drew a parallel with her aim of making Tamil Nadu free of open defecation by 2015 and assured to redouble efforts with the Centre’s support.
Praising the spirit to bring in cooperative federalism that she hoped would restore the federal spirit that was diluted in the past decade or so, she said she looked forward to the concrete shape such cooperative federalism would take to further the State’s development agenda.
The focus on infrastructure and promotion of industry was a positive message and revival of activities in those sectors would definitely help States such as Tamil Nadu. The announcement of building 100 new cities and establishing 50 tourist circuits was welcome. She hoped that the State would get its due when the projects became a reality.
Ms. Jayalalithaa lauded the Central support for modernising police forces, and the establishment of a National Maritime Authority, and called for involvement of States in the proposed Authority.
