New Delhi, Jan 29: The Budget Session began with President Kovind’s address to both the houses of Parliament on Monday.
In his first address, the President said: 2018 is an important year for realising the dream of ‘New India’.
“Baba Saheb Ambedkar used to say that without economic and social democracy, political democracy is unstable”.
“It is our duty that when we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary in 2019 we pay tribute to him by making our country completely clean”, he asserted.
Highlighting several achievements of the central government in the last four years, the President said “Our nation is the youngest nation. My govt started Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill India and Pradhanmantri Mudra Yojana to help the youth of the country to realise their dreams & make them self-employed”.
He stated,” Government increased the minimum wage of laborers by more than 40 percent”.
“Parliament approved a bill granting working woman paid maternity leave of 26 weeks”.
He further said, ” The government is committed to double the income of farmers by the year 2022″.
“Work has started to connect villages with Broadband connectivity. 2.5 lakh Panchayats have already been connected so far”.
The President stated “Work has started to connect villages with Broadband connectivity. 2.5 lakh Panchayats have already been connected so far”.
“2.70 Lakh Common Service Centers have been set up across the nation. These Centers provide digital service at low rates for various services even in the far off remote areas”.
In a 45 minute-long speech, the President touched on the subject of internal security, claiming significant improvement in the situation with security forces doing a good job in the northeast, Jammu and Kashmir and in handling Maoist insurgency.
On internal security in the country, he asserted terrorist violence in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir was directly related to cross-border infiltration.
“With better coordination, the Army, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police are giving a befitting response to the perpetrators.
“There has been a reduction in incidents of Naxal-Maoist violence. For this, the enlightened citizens of the region, our military, paramilitary and police forces deserve to be congratulated. We commend all our security personnel and pay heartfelt tribute to the martyrs.”
He said the government had kept open the path of dialogue with those who wish to shun violence and join the mainstream while reposing faith in the Constitution.
Kovind said the government had also sanctioned over Rs 18,000 crore for the modernization of police forces.
The President hailed UNESCO decision to recognise Kumbh Mela as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’.
“It’s a matter of pride for us that UNESCO recognised Kumbh Mela as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’. UNESCO also designated Ahmedabad as ‘Heritage City’. Chennai was included in the list of Creative Cities by UNESCO”. he said.
Kovind also expressed hope for smooth passage of “Triple Talaq Bill” saying so that the Muslim women can live a life of dignity and without fear.
Earlier in a day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all the parties to pass the Triple Talaq Bill in the Parliament’s Budget Session.
“We could not pass the Triple Talaq Bill in last Parliament session. But I want to urge all the political parties to pass that bill in the Budget Session as it is meant to safeguard the rights of Muslim women,” Modi told the media in Parliament.
The President said the government was committed to empowerment and not appeasement and was making “intensive efforts for economic, social and educational empowerment of the minorities.
“Keeping in mind the objective of women empowerment, for the first time since independence, the restriction on women above 45 years of age to perform Haj pilgrimage unaccompanied by their male relatives has been removed. This year, more than 1,300 women are going on Haj pilgrimage without mehram (male guardian)”, he said.
Following the President’s speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented “Economic Survey 2018”.
WerForNews
