| Font Size |
In his New Year message to the nation, he noted that corruption was a serious problem that needs multi-dimensional response of which Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part.
He said it was "unfortunate" that Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha but said the government was committed to its enactment.
"The year that has just ended was a very difficult year for the world," Singh said, citing the economic crisis, socio economic tensions, "political upheavals in many developing countries" and "a revolution of rising expectations fostered by the extraordinary reach of the electronic media and the connectivity provided by new social networking platforms."
These issues kept governments around the world "on their toes", he said, adding that "we in India have had our share of problems."
Talking in the context of India specifically, Singh said the economy slowed down, inflation edged up and "concern about corruption moved to the centre stage".
Counselling against despondency, he said, "we must address the new concerns that have arisen while remaining steadfast in our commitment to put the nation on a development path which ensures rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth.
"I want to assure you all on this New Year's day that I personally will work to provide an honest and more efficient government, a more productive, competitive and robust economy and a more equitable and just social and political order."
Dwelling on the issue of corruption, the Prime Minister termed it as a "serious problem" which calls for a multi-dimensional response. "New institutions such as Lokpal and Lokayuktas are an important part of the solution and we have initiated the process for establishing them."
Underlining that it was "only one part of the solution", he said, "we also need reforms in systems of governance which would increase transparency and minimise discretion so that the scope of misgovernance is reduced."
He said the government has taken several "transformational" initiatives in this regard which will be "recognised as such down the line". In this context, he listed introduction of Bills on Citizen's Charter and Judicial Accountability in Parliament. "These initiatives will take time to have full effect and we must, therefore, be patient," he counselled.
Singh, who was one of the architects of liberalisation initiated in 1991, said that process was aimed at freeing the citizens from the "dead weight" of bureaucracy and corruption.
"...Old forms of corruption have vanished, new forms of corruption have emerged which need to be tackled. Elimination of corruption is critical to support genuine entrepreneurship," he said, adding "It is also the demand of the ordinary citizen who encounters corruption all too often in everyday transactions with those in authority."
The nine-page message gave an overview of a host of subjects like economic situation, food security, national security, ecological security and social issues.
He identified five key challenges - livelihood security, (education, food, health and employment), economic security, energy security, ecological security and national security and said "we must work together as a nation" to address these.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
IT MEANS, PM CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD BEEN NEITHER HONEST NOR EFFICIENT. EVEN AFTER SIX PLUS YEARS OF RULING WITHOUT HONESTY AND EFFICIENCY, HE LOST HIS MORAL RIGHTS TO RULE THIS COUNTRY. LET HIM STEP DOWN AND ALLOW ANY HONEST AND EFFICIENT MAN TO RULE THIS COUNTRY!
Mr.Prime Minister, We have no Confidence in beleving you as we have seen you could not deliver. Donot miss lead the nation and you cannpot even convence your own government and party what is good what is bad in the lokpal bill,
Many of todays Politicians are accomplished , xtremely intelligent , strong , with a great reach .. but like Ravan, those in power, have the wrong intent and motivation. On the otherside the Indian populace is super tolerant and die hard optimists considering what one sees transpiring in the Parliament day in and day out.
Mr. Prime Minster, this will not happen on your watch!! for NO political party is interested in India. You do not have control over your own government of Ministers.
I appreciate the tone of sincerety and simplicity in Dr.Singh's promise to people. But I wonder whether he can deliver. He is too simple to handle the crooks that surround him. The best approach for him would be to enact an effective Lokpal bill and make the CBI Independent. This will be a service to the Nation. Once he does this, the law will take its own course and will bell the cat. Those who indulged in corruption must be punished and that too soon. They should pay the price for playing with the lives of 1.2 billion people of this country.
The spineless says that he will provide honest and efficient Government which he was unable to provide for all these years. That means he will start afresh. He was breeding only evil and corruption during his two terms.
If you have the guts to work with honesty and integrity, then put sony and amul baby behind bars incharge of black money slashed abroad & for bofors & other scandals. Otherwise RESIGN & GO TO HELL!!!!!! rather than talking nonsense like this WE INDIANS ARE NOT FOOL, TO SWALLOW YOUR WORDS
Thank you Mr Manmohan accepting your failure so far in providing honest govt.You are better suited in Finance Minister's post than a dumb n motionless " KATHPUTALI",who needs hands to make movements as per others whimps an francise.Anna / Media exposed Govt's failure and need for many changes required in constitution which looks too weak for present requirements to make the citizens proud.Mr Manmohan,please resign as PM and sit in the opposition.Once that happens,Sonia and Rahul will desert you and all congressmen and pack their bags and flee out of India.
commonsense tells Govt was put on mat by Anna movement. So Congress would have been the gainer if Lokpal bill was passed ( howsoever weak it may be - which actually it is not), whereas BJP and Left wanted to show the Congress in bad light so they had opposed it ( had they been sincere they should have voted in favour at RS when it was clear that without their support the bill could not have been passed in RS) SP and BSP realised that if bill is passed again Congress would claim credit for the Lokpal bill. Mamta was repeatedly shown running Govt for development is not an easy task as in 7 months she had not done anything spectacular so till June 2012 she can continue with her role as strret fighter after that voters in Bengal will show their appirisal of her Govt whenever any bye elections in Bengal.Lastly many MPs felt that by passing the bill they would be signing their own arrest warrants. certain Anna movement like Kjriwal and Dr.Kiran Bedi have their axe to grind against Congress
By telling this, our PM has accepted that during his last 6 years rule he has not given a clean admn. Secondly, so long he is depending on the corrupt people like Laalu, Mamta,Sharad Pawar, Mulayam, Karunanidhi he can never give a corruption free admn., He will not only loose the confidence of the people but will also have a dent to his good personal name. With the corrupt people around him , giving a good governance is only a dream sir.