Under attack from the Opposition over scams and price rise,the government on Monday promised to address corruption and inflation as its foremost priorities. Addressing a joint session of both Houses of Parliament to mark the beginning of the Budget session, President Pratibha Patil vowed to get back the black money parked by Indians abroad. My government will spare no effort in bringing back to India what belongs to it and bring the guilty to book, she said,adding that the government was working closely with the international community,especially through the G-20,to expedite the process of identification and recovery of black money. She cautioned the country against complacency over high economic growth and undertook to strive to maintain the momentum for reforms on a wide front,make the domestic environment more conducive to investment and encourage domestic and direct foreign investment. Our citizens deserve good governance, the President said,underlining the commitment of the government to improve the quality of governance and enhance transparency,probity and integrity in public life. She said a Group of Ministers was considering all measures,including legislative and administrative,to tackle corruption and improve transparency. The group would consider issues relating to abolition of discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers,introduction of an open and competitive system of exploiting natural resources,fast-tracking cases against public servants charged with corruption and amendments to the relevant laws to facilitate quicker action against public servants. In an apparent reference to the mega projects awaiting environmental clearances,Patil said,A developing country like ours must find ways to strike an appropriate balance between environmental imperatives and developmental needs. The government,she said,had set up a Group of Ministers to look into issues relating to the reconciliation of environmental concerns arising out of different kinds of developmental activities,without in any way diluting our pursuit of ecologically sustainable growth paths. On mineral wealth,she said her government considered it a vital national resource which has to be harnessed towards rapid industrial development and inclusive growth. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation),according to her,is proposed to be replaced with a new piece of legislation,which will,among other measures,ensure that local communities benefit adequately from the development process. The President reiterated the government commitment to bring forward a Food Security Bill that will entitle statutorily every family,below the poverty line,to foodgrains at highly subsidised prices. She referred to the passage of the Womens Reservation Bill by the Rajya Sabha and hoped that it will be considered by the Lok Sabha at the earliest. Listing terrorism,fundamentalism,ethnic violence and Left-wing terrorism as major challenges, she said the government had initiated a major revamp in the security apparatus following the 26/11 attacks. A major multi-agency centre and subsidiary multi-agency centres had been operationalised; the National Investigation Agency constituted and regional hubs of national security guards had been established. The increase in police forces,coupled with emphasis on recruitment from areas affected by Left-wing terrorism,had begun to show results. Patil said India sought a peaceful resolution of issues through a meaningful dialogue so long as Pakistan does not allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities. Regarding recent developments in Egypt,she said,As a democracy,we welcome the dawn of democracy elsewhere. India,she maintained,would continue to work for the return of stability and peace in Afghanistan. The international economic situation,she said,continues to remain complicated by the after-effects of the global financial crisis. We have worked with our international partners in the G-20,the BRIC,and the IBSA groupings to promote an open and inclusive international trading order,resisting protectionist impulses, she added.
