In the backdrop of the total washout of the winter session of Parliament, President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday advised the government and the Opposition to sort out their differences through dialogue and refrain from any action that diluted democracy.
Addressing the issue in her address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, Ms. Patil emphasised that Parliament was the “repository of the sovereign will of the people” and its successful functioning was the joint responsibility of the government and the Opposition.
“It is important that the decorum and dignity of the House is upheld at all times. The image of Parliament in the public mind should be one where proceedings, debates and discussions take place to resolve issues through a constructive and cooperative approach. If this does not happen, people's faith in democratic institutions can be affected,” she said.
The President highlighted the issue of corruption, saying it was “the enemy of development and good governance” and she sought “systemic changes” to deal with it. “Financial institutions, the corporate world and civil society — all must uphold high standards of probity in their working,” she said.
Ms. Patil called for a national consensus on critical goals such as eradication of poverty, empowerment of women, access to quality education and affordable health facilities. She had a special word for the media: be responsive and responsible.
Even while exuding confidence about an estimated 9 per cent growth of the economy next year, she expressed “serious concern” over the rising food inflation and urged the government to take suitable action and look at more innovative approaches towards food security, agricultural production and rural development.
Seeking a ‘second green revolution' in rain-fed areas, the President said that in any arrangement it should be kept in mind that farmers were the stakeholders in every aspect related to agriculture, be it cultivation, warehousing, processing, marketing, research or development. “Farmers must, therefore, be involved in various activities with a sensitivity that safeguards their rights on land and its produce. The corporate sector must take up responsibility to make agriculture remunerative, particularly, in rain-fed areas, as food security is of prime importance for our country.”
In this context, she called for a national campaign for foodgrains productivity to create awareness of sustainable food production and a national planning for integrated production, particularly of cereals, oilseeds and pulses. Each State should try and produce its requirement of foodgrains.
Pointing out that development and progress required an environment of stability and security, Ms. Patil said that terrorism posed the single-most detrimental threat to the progress of human kind, and stressed the “crucial need” for concerted action by the international community to eradicate it. “As India assumes its seat as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, it will intensify its efforts for collective global action against terrorism,” she said.
