*Singh describes Vohra’s suggestions worth exploring
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 12: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said today that there were clear signs of improvement in internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir but admitted that a lot still needs to be done.
Asserting that India remained committed to good relations and peaceful existence with the neighbours, Dr Singh, however, said that incident that took place on the Line of Control (LoC) last month was against any civilised international behaviour and “simply unacceptable to us”.
Addressing the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi today, the Prime Minister paid particular attention to the remarks of Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on security issues.
In his address, a copy of which was available with the Excelsior, Dr Singh said: “the year 2012 saw clear signs of improvement in the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir besides the North East and Left wing extremism affected areas.
“However, there is a lot which still needs to be done. The Home Minister (Sushil Kumar Shinde) has briefed us of our plan of action to meet challenges such as terrorism and Left wing extremism, which have both external and internal dimensions”.
Pointing out that “several steps” have been taken by the Centre for improvement of mechanisms and instrumentalities to counter terrorism, the Prime Minister listed some of them as strengthening of Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and the Subsidiary Multi Agency Centre (SMAC), creation of four new hubs of the NSG, construction of coastal police stations and provision of high technology boats, setting up of the National Investigation Agency, and creation of NATGRID.
He said the passage of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (Amendment) Bill in Parliament has given more teeth to the anti-terror regime and is at par with international standards.
Elaborating further on security issues, Dr Singh said he has paid particular attention to the remarks of Governors of Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern States on security issues.
“Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has made some suggestions for more coherent action on the part of security agencies which I think are well worth exploring. I am sure my Cabinet colleagues-Defence Minister AK Antony and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will have all such suggestions on security issues examined to see what action is possible on them”, the Prime Minister said.
Asserting that India remained committed to working for good relations and peaceful existence with our neighbours, Dr Singh, without naming Pakistan, said: “we are, however, also firm in our resolve to deal effectively with any threat to our country.
Referring to January 8 incident at Mankote sector on the LoC in Poonch district, the Prime Minister observed that the incidents like the one that took place on the LoC last month are against the norms of civilised international behaviour and are “simply unacceptable to us”.
Worthwhile to mention here that Pakistani troops had sneaked into the Indian territory in Mankote on January 8 morning and killed two Indian soldiers. They had beheaded Lance Naik Hem Raj and took away his head to Pakistan. India has been pressing for return of the head.
After the incident, India had put on hold a scheme for visa for elderly people and the Prime Minister had stated that it could not be “business as usual” with Pakistan.
Noting that there is a need to recognise that India’s neighbourhood is “characterized by growing instability and uncertainty”, the Prime Minister said the capabilities of armed forces and police are being “constantly strengthened” to meet the entire spectrum of security challenges.
“We are also undertaking infrastructure development programmes in the border areas to enhance mobility as well as connectivity,” he said.
Referring to Left-wing extremism, he said its geographical spread in the country is showing a shrinking trend even though in Assam, it is expanding, which is “worrisome”.
Explaining Centre’s “two pronged” policy to tackle Left wing extremism, Dr Singh said: “even as we have intensified operations against the extremists, we have also endeavoured to bridge the development and governance deficit in these areas, many of which have predominantly tribal population.”
Listing the steps taken by the Government, Dr Singh said they include deploying additional central forces, raising specialised forces, strengthening police stations and imparting training to state police personnel in counter insurgency, jungle warfare and anti-terrorism operations.
The Prime Minister agreed on the need for “greater inter-state coordination in operations against Left wing extremists”, emphasised by Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan. “One cannot agree more with him,” he said.
Dr Singh said the Integrated Action Plan for 82 select and backward districts, most of which are affected by Left wing extremism has begun to show encouraging results.
“Road connectivity in these districts is also being improved. We have also taken steps to streamline the process for vesting of forest rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act to the entitled people,” he said.
He stressed on the need for maintaining communal harmony in a secular polity of the country saying both the Centre and States have to pursue a well coordinated strategy to achieve this objective.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
Concerned over economic slowdown, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said the Government is committed to containing the fiscal deficit to 5.3 per cent of GDP this fiscal and various steps are being taken to revive economy, which include faster clearances to mega projects.
He said Indian economy has slowed down considerably in the last two years and the growth in this fiscal year will be much below the average growth of about 8 per cent that achieved in the last decade.
“The factors that have caused this slowdown lie both outside and within our country.
“It is imperative that we do everything possible to reverse this trend and the Government has made concerted and serious efforts in recent months to revive investment and growth,” Singh said.
As per the latest estimates of Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), India’s economic growth (GDP) is likely to slow down to 5 per cent this fiscal as against 6.2 per cent achieved last year.
However, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has exuded confidence of over 5.5 per cent economic growth in 2012-13.
Stressing that large fiscal deficit has been a specific cause of concern, he said a fiscal consolidation roadmap has already been put in place to lower it gradually.
“We intend to contain fiscal deficit at 5.3 per cent of GDP and reduce it to 4.8 per cent in the next year,” he said.
Singh further said efforts are being made to fast track investment proposals, with particular focus on clearances from the environment and forest angles as well as towards removal of infrastructural bottlenecks.
“However, the climate for investment is also affected by the activities of State Governments. Factors like the state of law and order, and how easy or difficult it is to acquire land and obtain electricity connections also have an important influence on the climate for investment,” he said.
The Prime Minister informed the Governors that the reasons for slowdown in the economic growth during the last two years could be attributed to domestic as well as global factors.
Policy measures, he further said, announced in the current year have “generated optimism” which is reflected in an upturn in the Business Expectations Index for the October-December quarter, the Purchasing Managers’ Index in October-December and buoyancy in capital markets.
Internal accruals of the corporate sector, necessary for a pick-up in investment, have also started improving, he said adding, there has also been a moderation in core inflation.
“These factors point towards recovery in GDP growth in the second half of the current year,” he said.
The economy expanded by 5.4 per cent in the first half of the ongoing fiscal.
Singh also said the recent direct cash transfer scheme will help improve targeting, reduce corruption, eliminate waste and enhance efficiency in the public delivery system.
In the past few months, the Government has taken a slew of initiatives towards economic reforms, including further liberalised FDI policy, capping supply of subsidised cylinders and partial decontrol of diesel prices.
Against the backdrop of the shocking Delhi gangrape, Dr Singh said states should sensitise police forces to show special care in tackling crime against women.
Calling for collective efforts to change societal values with respect to women, Singh asked the Governors of States and Union territories to guide their Governments in this direction.
The Prime Minister stressed on the need to sensitise the police forces towards showing special care in dealing with crimes against the weaker sections of the society, including women, SC/STs, minorities and children.
“There is also a need to induct more women in our police forces. I urge the governors to guide their state Governments in this direction,” Singh said.
Noting that the horrific incident of gangrape here on December 16 had shaken the collective conscience of the country, he said the Government has been prompt in acting on the recommendations of the Justice J S Verma Committee by promulgating an ordinance to strengthen laws to deal with crimes of sexual assault of an extreme nature against women.
The 23-year-old victim had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
Singh also urged the governors to pay particular attention to the effective implementation of the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) and the Forest Rights Act.
He said the Governors have a direct and critical role in ensuring speedy development of Scheduled Areas.
“These constitutional arrangements have played a very significant role in addressing the long standing demands and aspirations of our tribal brothers and sisters, especially those belonging to the North East,” Singh said.
Singh said in tribal areas, the process of regular elections, coupled with greater devolution of funds and functions, has strengthened the Tribal Councils.
In the Fifth Schedule areas, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) has ensured a greater say for the population in both local governance and control over community resources, he said.
“However, we still have a long way to go in terms of strengthening democratic processes and ensuring devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to the institutions of local self governance in the Scheduled areas,” Singh said.
The Prime Minister said the Centre has been implementing the National Rural Drinking Water Programme and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to assist states in enabling the availability of safe drinking water in rural and urban areas of the country.
“Reports indicate that approximately 74 per cent of our rural habitations have been provided with access to adequate safe drinking water,” he said.
Singh said he was happy to note that the Bharat Nirman target of providing adequate and safe drinking water to identified and hitherto uncovered habitations has been achieved.
“However, we still need to address the issue of contamination of drinking water sources which affects many rural habitations. We also need to ensure that Gram Panchayats and local communities are fully involved in the planning, implementation and operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Government was giving much more attention to the area of sanitation than before.
“In order to accelerate the progress of sanitation in rural areas, a paradigm shift has been made in the Total Sanitation Campaign which is now called the ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan’ in the 12th Plan,” he said.
Singh said the Government has set a goal to achieve 100 per cent access to sanitation for all rural households by 2022.
On manual scavenging, the Prime Minister said a new bill for the elimination of practice and the rehabilitation of manual scavengers has been introduced in Parliament.
“The new bill seeks to put an end to the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging. I am hopeful that Parliament will soon enact the proposed legislation,” he said.
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