Govt. committed to empowerment of SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities: PM

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that his Government is committed to the economic, social, political and educational empowerment of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and minorities.

New Delhi, Aug 15 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that his Government is committed to the economic, social, political and educational empowerment of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and minorities.

Apart from promoting the effective implementation of all existing reservations for them, Dr. Singh said: "We have been able to persuade the private sector to some extent to take affirmative action to ensure that these sections of society get a fair share of employment in industry and trade."

The architects of our Constitution placed special emphasis on the empowerment of the SCs, STs and other weaker sections of society, he added.

Dr. Singh said: "We have announced major scholarships and development programmes for their benefit."

He said that the Prime Minister's 15-Point programme is designed to ensure that the minorities are not left out of development programmes, and that they have the necessary resources to transform their lives.

Commenting on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Dr. Singh said: "We have made basic employment for 100 days a legal right. Today, half the country is covered by the programme. We are committed to implementing it across the entire country."

"Our Government has decided to invest in setting up good quality schools across the country. We will support 6,000 new high quality schools - one in every block of the country. Each such school will set standards of excellence for other schools in the area," he said.

In context of primary education programmes, Dr. Singh said: "We are committed to universalizing secondary education. 'An extensive programme for this is being finalized,"

"We will also ensure that adequate numbers of colleges are set up across the country, especially in districts where enrolment levels are low. We will help States set up colleges in 370 such districts," he added.

Terming the University system as the focus of reform and development agenda," he said: "We will set up thirty new Central Universities. Every state that does not have a central university will now have one."

On the promotion of science and professional education, he said: "We are setting up five new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, eight new Indian Institutes of Technology, seven new Indian Institutes of Management, and twenty new Indian Institutes of Information Technology.""We will soon launch a Mission on Vocational Education and Skill Development, through which we will open 1600 new industrial training institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics, 10,000 new vocational schools and 50,000 new Skill Development Centres," he added.

Describing the problem of malnutrition as a matter of national shame, Dr. Singh said: "We have tried to address it by making the mid-day meal universal and massively expanding the anganwadi system. However, success requires sustained effort at the grassroots."

He appealed to the nation to resolve to work hard to eradicate malnutrition within five years.

Among the other new initiatives announced were a new health insurance scheme for the poor, an old age pension scheme for senior citizens above 65 years and below the poverty line, life and disability cover to the heads of all poor families or to one earning member in each family, and a National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, to ensure that children are safe and well cared for.

"In line with our commitment to the welfare of the 'Aam Aadmi', the Central Government spending on education has been tripled," Dr. Singh said.

Stressing on the need to increase investment in backward areas to improve the regional balance in development, Dr. Singh said: We have created the Backward Regions Grant Fund covering 250 districts. Over a period of time, these funds and our other initiatives will see that these regions catch up with other parts of the country. Every State, every district, every village, every person must be touched by the hand of progress."

ANI