CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS SUBMITS JOINT MEMORANDUM TO FINANCE MINISTER
17th January 2015
The Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt. of India,
North Block, New Delhi
Dear Sir,
We thank you for inviting the central trade unions representing the working people in the country in both organized and unorganized sector for this pre-budget consultation.
In the previous pre-budget consultation meeting with you held on 6th June 2014, we urged upon you to please consider a directional change in the economic policy regime from that pursued during the previous government which, you have also admitted, had landed the country’s economy in a bad situation. In fact, we had articulated our views and proposals on that premise. But we like to submit candidly that our proposals did not receive a positive response and the economic policies followed the same trajectory and made situation worse for the mass of the people during the intervening period.
Sir, the Mid Term Economic Analysis (2014-15) by Govt of India itself admitted that for the period under review despite increase in GDP growth rate, and a much bigger increase in profit of the corporate sector and big business lobby, the wages for the working people who actually create the GDP in both rural and urban areas plunged on the average. Overall standard of living of people deteriorated and unemployment situation in the country has not improved in the least. Much more jobs were lost owing to closure/lockout, retrenchment than created during the intervening period. And in the midst of such situation, the Govt has already decided to cut already budgeted expenditure in the social sector such as MNREGA, Health, Education etc which we strongly deplore. Such a phenomenon warranted serious reconsideration on directional change in the economic policy regime and we again urge you for the same.
We express our serious concern and dismay over the manner the Govt have been pushing various major economic policy related decisions through promulgation of Ordinances. At least eight Ordinances were promulgated during last eight months of the new Govt. We record our determined opposition to such practice of Ordinance route of governance. In particular we also oppose the Ordinance on coal sector, insurance sector and on Land Acquisition Act and want you to please take note of the rousing opposition and struggles by the workers and the farmers against such disastrous exercises. We demand all such Ordinances should be withdrawn forthwith.
We wish that our candid observations, considered views and concrete proposals are taken in the right spirit and responded with all seriousness and given appropriate reflections in the ensuing budget 2014-15.
Our proposals:
Some of these specific proposals have time and again been placed by us in various policy making fora including the earlier pre-budget consultations. However, we would like to reiterate them, urging your positive response:
Take effective measures to arrest the spiraling price rise and to contain inflation; Ban speculative forward trading in commodities; Universalise and strengthen the Public Distribution System; Ensure proper check on hoarding; Rationalise, with a view to reduce the burden on people, the tax/duty/cess on petroleum products.
There must be massive investment in the infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy for job creation. The Mid Term Economic Analysis(2014-15) published by Govt of India has clearly mentioned about the failure of the PPP experiments in infrastructure development and opined for public investment. It is our considered view that the Public sector should take the leading role in this regard. The plan & non-plan expenditure should be increased in the budget to stimulate jobs creation and guarantee consistent income to people.
Minimum wage linked to Consumer Price Index must be guaranteed to all workers, taking into consideration the recommendations of the 15th Indian Labour Conference as enriched by Apex Court of the country as reiterated in 44th ILC in 2012. In any case, it should not be less than Rs.15,000/- p.m.
FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, telecommunications, Railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media.
The public sector units played a crucial role during the year of severe contraction of private capital investment immediately following the outbreak of global financial crisis. PSUs should be strengthened and expanded. Disinvestment of shares of profit making public sector units should be stopped forthwith. Budgetary support should be given for revival of potentially viable Sick CPSUs
In view of huge joblosses and mounting unemployment problem, the ban on recruitment in Govt. deptts, PSUs and autonomous institutions (including recent Finance Ministry’s instruction to abolish those posts not filled for one year) should be lifted as recommended by 43rdSession of Indian Labour Conference. Condition of surrender of posts in govt. departments and PSUs should be scrapped and new posts be created keeping in view the new work and increased workload.
§ Proper allocation of funds be made for interim relief of 20% and 100% DA merge with basic pay and allowances including neutralization percentage be paid on merged DA in view of 7th CPC to all Govt. employees. Similarly, 100% DA of PSU employees be also merged with basic pay.
The scope of MGNREGA be extended to agriculture operations and urban areas as well and employment for minimum period of 200 days with guaranteed statutory wage be provided, as unanimously recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. The drastic cut already inflicted on the MNREGA allocation should be restored.
The massive workforce engaged in ICDS, Mid-day meal scheme, Vidya volunteers, Guest Teachers, Siksha Mitra, the workers engaged in the Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHA) and other schemes be regularized. No to privatization of centrally funded schemes. Universalisation of ICDS be done as per Supreme Court directions by making adequate budgetary allocations.
Steps be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility coverage of the schemes under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 and allocation of adequate resources for the National Fund for Unorganised Workers to provide for Social Security to all unorganized workers including the contract/casual and migrant workers in line with the recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference.
Remunerative Prices should be ensured for the agricultural produce and Govt. investment public investment in agriculture sector must be substantially augmented as a proportion of GDP and total budgetary expenditure. It should also be ensured that benefits of the increase reach the small, marginal and medium cultivators only;
Budgetary provision should be made for providing essential services including housing, public transport, sanitation, water, schools, crèche health care etc. to workers in the new emerging industrial areas. Working women’s hostels should be set up where there is a concentration of women workers.
Requisite budgetary support for addressing crisis in traditional sectors like Jute, Textiles, Plantation, Handloom, Carpet and Coir etc.
Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased, particularly in the context of the implementation of the ‘Right to Education’ as this is the most effective tool to combat child labour.
The system of computation of Consumer Price Index should be reviewed as the present index is causing heavy financial loss to the workers.
Income Tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons should be raised to Rs.5 lakh per annum and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances, Railways Running Staff and a staff in other deptts should be exempted from the income tax net in totality.
Threshold limit of 20 employees in EPF Scheme be brought down to 10 as recommended by CBT-EPF. Pension benefits under EPS unilaterally withdrawn by the Govt. should be restored. Govt. and Employers contribution be increased to allow sustainability of Employees Pension Scheme and for provision of minimum pension of Rs.3000/- p.m.
New Pension Scheme be withdrawn and newly recruited employees of central and state govts on or after 1.1.2004 be covered under Old Pension Scheme;
Demand for Dearness Allowance merger by Central Govt. and PSUs employees be accepted and adequate allocation of fund for this be made in the budget;
All interests and social security of the domestic workers to be statutorily protected on the lines of the ILO Convention on domestic workers.
The Cess Management of the construction workers is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry under the Act and the several irregularities found in collection of cess be rectified as well as their proper utilization must be ensured.
In regard to resource mobilization, we would like to emphasize the following:
A progressive taxation system should be put in place to ensure taxing the rich and the affluent sections who have the capacity to pay at a higher degree. The corporate service sector, traders, wholesale business, private hospitals and institutions etc. should be brought under broader and higher tax net. Increase taxes on luxury goods and reduce indirect taxes on essential commodities as at present the overwhelming majority of the populations are subjected to Indirect taxes that constitute 86% of the revenue.
§ Concrete steps must be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears which has already crossed more than Rs.5 lakh crore on direct and corporate tax account alone, and has been increasing at a geometric proportion. Such huge tax-evasion over and above the liberal tax concessions already given in the last two budgets should not be allowed to continue.
The SIT constituted for unearthing black money must deliver visible result which is yet to be seen. Effective measures should be taken to unearth huge accumulation of black money in the economy including the huge unaccounted money in tax heavens abroad and within the country. Finance Minister should make provisions to bring back the illicit flows from India which are at present more than twice the current external debt of US $ 230 billion. This money should be directed towards providing social security.
Concrete measures be expedited for recovering the NPAs of the banking system which is on the increasing trend again from the willfully defaulting corporate and business houses. By making provision in Banking Regulations Act, CMDs and Executives to be made accountable for creation of NPAs.
Tax on Long term capital gains to be introduced; so also higher taxes on the security transactions to be levied.
The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc. to be expanded and enhanced.
ITES, outsourcing sector, Educational Institutions and Health Services etc. run on commercial basis should be brought under Service Tax net. Govt.
Small saving instruments under postal and other agencies be encouraged by incentivizing commission agents of these scheme
OUR SERIOUS CONCERN:
We would like to express our strong resentment that the previous Govt. failed to positively respond to the collective voice of the Central Trade Unions on the very important issues concerning the working people of India, both organized and unorganized, consistently repeated in the form of a ‘10 point charter’ backed by several collective nationwide programmes. We expect that this Govt. will take initiative to discuss these issues with the Central Trade Unions in order to find a solution.
We also express our opposition to the so called Banking Reforms encouraging private sector/capitalists banking at the cost of public sector banks which saved the economy to an extent during the last global financial meltdown. We also oppose increase in limit of FDI and disinvestment of equity in insurance sector and FDI in pension. We strongly oppose the FDI in Defence and Retail Sector. Several such measures against the working men and women in this country including anti workers proposals contained in the New Manufacturing Policy have our strong opposition, as in our experience these kinds of measures have helped the growth of only a small section of the capitalists while the larger sections of the working population continue to be marginalized and impoverished.
We also oppose the hectic measures of changing labour laws in the name of labour reform both by the central and the state governments which are basically aimed at legitimizing ongoing widespread violations by the employers’ class and also throw out overwhelming majority of the workforce of the purview of the labour laws themselves at the total mercy of the employers.
POST BUDGET MEETING WITH TRADE UNIONS
Successive Finance Ministers have agreed to hold post budget meetings / consultations with the central trade unions. However, it has not been materialized except for one occasion. We understand such meetings did take place with the Corporate Associations/Employers Federations. We would like to importunate upon you to arrange such post budget meeting with trade unions also.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Points submitted by Central Trade Union for Pre Budget Meeting with FM
The Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt. of India,
North Block, New Delhi
Dear Sir,
We thank you for inviting the central trade unions representing the working people in the country in both organized and unorganized sector for this pre-budget consultation.
In the previous pre-budget consultation meeting with you held on 6th June 2014, we urged upon you to please consider a directional change in the economic policy regime from that pursued during the previous government which, you have also admitted, had landed the country’s economy in a bad situation. In fact, we had articulated our views and proposals on that premise. But we like to submit candidly that our proposals did not receive a positive response and the economic policies followed the same trajectory and made situation worse for the mass of the people during the intervening period.
Sir, the Mid Term Economic Analysis (2014-15) by Govt of India itself admitted that for the period under review despite increase in GDP growth rate, and a much bigger increase in profit of the corporate sector and big business lobby, the wages for the working people who actually create the GDP in both rural and urban areas plunged on the average. Overall standard of living of people deteriorated and unemployment situation in the country has not improved in the least. Much more jobs were lost owing to closure/lockout, retrenchment than created during the intervening period. And in the midst of such situation, the Govt has already decided to cut already budgeted expenditure in the social sector such as MNREGA, Health, Education etc which we strongly deplore. Such a phenomenon warranted serious reconsideration on directional change in the economic policy regime and we again urge you for the same.
We express our serious concern and dismay over the manner the Govt have been pushing various major economic policy related decisions through promulgation of Ordinances. At least eight Ordinances were promulgated during last eight months of the new Govt. We record our determined opposition to such practice of Ordinance route of governance. In particular we also oppose the Ordinance on coal sector, insurance sector and on Land Acquisition Act and want you to please take note of the rousing opposition and struggles by the workers and the farmers against such disastrous exercises. We demand all such Ordinances should be withdrawn forthwith.
We wish that our candid observations, considered views and concrete proposals are taken in the right spirit and responded with all seriousness and given appropriate reflections in the ensuing budget 2014-15.
Our proposals:
Some of these specific proposals have time and again been placed by us in various policy making fora including the earlier pre-budget consultations. However, we would like to reiterate them, urging your positive response:
Take effective measures to arrest the spiraling price rise and to contain inflation; Ban speculative forward trading in commodities; Universalise and strengthen the Public Distribution System; Ensure proper check on hoarding; Rationalise, with a view to reduce the burden on people, the tax/duty/cess on petroleum products.
There must be massive investment in the infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy for job creation. The Mid Term Economic Analysis(2014-15) published by Govt of India has clearly mentioned about the failure of the PPP experiments in infrastructure development and opined for public investment. It is our considered view that the Public sector should take the leading role in this regard. The plan & non-plan expenditure should be increased in the budget to stimulate jobs creation and guarantee consistent income to people.
Minimum wage linked to Consumer Price Index must be guaranteed to all workers, taking into consideration the recommendations of the 15th Indian Labour Conference as enriched by Apex Court of the country as reiterated in 44th ILC in 2012. In any case, it should not be less than Rs.15,000/- p.m.
FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, telecommunications, Railways, financial sector, retail trade, education, health and media.
The public sector units played a crucial role during the year of severe contraction of private capital investment immediately following the outbreak of global financial crisis. PSUs should be strengthened and expanded. Disinvestment of shares of profit making public sector units should be stopped forthwith. Budgetary support should be given for revival of potentially viable Sick CPSUs
In view of huge joblosses and mounting unemployment problem, the ban on recruitment in Govt. deptts, PSUs and autonomous institutions (including recent Finance Ministry’s instruction to abolish those posts not filled for one year) should be lifted as recommended by 43rdSession of Indian Labour Conference. Condition of surrender of posts in govt. departments and PSUs should be scrapped and new posts be created keeping in view the new work and increased workload.
Proper allocation of funds be made for interim relief of 20% and 100% DA merge with basic pay and allowances including neutralization percentage be paid on merged DA in view of 7th CPC to all Govt. employees. Similarly, 100% DA of PSU employees be also merged with basic pay.
The scope of MGNREGA be extended to agriculture operations and urban areas as well and employment for minimum period of 200 days with guaranteed statutory wage be provided, as unanimously recommended by 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference. The drastic cut already inflicted on the MNREGA allocation should be restored.
The massive workforce engaged in ICDS, Mid-day meal scheme, Vidya volunteers, Guest Teachers, Siksha Mitra, the workers engaged in the Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHA) and other schemes be regularized. No to privatization of centrally funded schemes. Universalisation of ICDS be done as per Supreme Court directions by making adequate budgetary allocations.
Steps be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility coverage of the schemes under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 and allocation of adequate resources for the National Fund for Unorganised Workers to provide for Social Security to all unorganized workers including the contract/casual and migrant workers in line with the recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the 43rd Session of Indian Labour Conference.
Remunerative Prices should be ensured for the agricultural produce and Govt. investment public investment in agriculture sector must be substantially augmented as a proportion of GDP and total budgetary expenditure. It should also be ensured that benefits of the increase reach the small, marginal and medium cultivators only;
Budgetary provision should be made for providing essential services including housing, public transport, sanitation, water, schools, crèche health care etc. to workers in the new emerging industrial areas. Working women’s hostels should be set up where there is a concentration of women workers.
Requisite budgetary support for addressing crisis in traditional sectors like Jute, Textiles, Plantation, Handloom, Carpet and Coir etc.
Budgetary provision for elementary education should be increased, particularly in the context of the implementation of the ‘Right to Education’ as this is the most effective tool to combat child labour.
The system of computation of Consumer Price Index should be reviewed as the present index is causing heavy financial loss to the workers.
Income Tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons should be raised to Rs.5 lakh per annum and fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances, Railways Running Staff and a staff in other deptts should be exempted from the income tax net in totality.
Threshold limit of 20 employees in EPF Scheme be brought down to 10 as recommended by CBT-EPF. Pension benefits under EPS unilaterally withdrawn by the Govt. should be restored. Govt. and Employers contribution be increased to allow sustainability of Employees Pension Scheme and for provision of minimum pension of Rs.3000/- p.m.
New Pension Scheme be withdrawn and newly recruited employees of central and state govts on or after 1.1.2004 be covered under Old Pension Scheme;
Demand for Dearness Allowance merger by Central Govt. and PSUs employees be accepted and adequate allocation of fund for this be made in the budget;
All interests and social security of the domestic workers to be statutorily protected on the lines of the ILO Convention on domestic workers.
The Cess Management of the construction workers is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry under the Act and the several irregularities found in collection of cess be rectified as well as their proper utilization must be ensured.
In regard to resource mobilization, we would like to emphasize the following:
A progressive taxation system should be put in place to ensure taxing the rich and the affluent sections who have the capacity to pay at a higher degree. The corporate service sector, traders, wholesale business, private hospitals and institutions etc. should be brought under broader and higher tax net. Increase taxes on luxury goods and reduce indirect taxes on essential commodities as at present the overwhelming majority of the populations are subjected to Indirect taxes that constitute 86% of the revenue.
Concrete steps must be taken to recover huge accumulated unpaid tax arrears which has already crossed more than Rs.5 lakh crore on direct and corporate tax account alone, and has been increasing at a geometric proportion. Such huge tax-evasion over and above the liberal tax concessions already given in the last two budgets should not be allowed to continue.
The SIT constituted for unearthing black money must deliver visible result which is yet to be seen. Effective measures should be taken to unearth huge accumulation of black money in the economy including the huge unaccounted money in tax heavens abroad and within the country. Finance Minister should make provisions to bring back the illicit flows from India which are at present more than twice the current external debt of US $ 230 billion. This money should be directed towards providing social security.
Concrete measures be expedited for recovering the NPAs of the banking system which is on the increasing trend again from the willfully defaulting corporate and business houses. By making provision in Banking Regulations Act, CMDs and Executives to be made accountable for creation of NPAs.
Tax on Long term capital gains to be introduced; so also higher taxes on the security transactions to be levied.
The rate of wealth tax, corporate tax, gift tax etc. to be expanded and enhanced.
ITES, outsourcing sector, Educational Institutions and Health Services etc. run on commercial basis should be brought under Service Tax net. Govt.
Small saving instruments under postal and other agencies be encouraged by incentivizing commission agents of these scheme
OUR SERIOUS CONCERN:
We would like to express our strong resentment that the previous Govt. failed to positively respond to the collective voice of the Central Trade Unions on the very important issues concerning the working people of India, both organized and unorganized, consistently repeated in the form of a ‘10 point charter’ backed by several collective nationwide programmes. We expect that this Govt. will take initiative to discuss these issues with the Central Trade Unions in order to find a solution.
We also express our opposition to the so called Banking Reforms encouraging private sector/capitalists banking at the cost of public sector banks which saved the economy to an extent during the last global financial meltdown. We also oppose increase in limit of FDI and disinvestment of equity in insurance sector and FDI in pension. We strongly oppose the FDI in Defence and Retail Sector. Several such measures against the working men and women in this country including anti workers proposals contained in the New Manufacturing Policy have our strong opposition, as in our experience these kinds of measures have helped the growth of only a small section of the capitalists while the larger sections of the working population continue to be marginalized and impoverished.
We also oppose the hectic measures of changing labour laws in the name of labour reform both by the central and the state governments which are basically aimed at legitimizing ongoing widespread violations by the employers’ class and also throw out overwhelming majority of the workforce of the purview of the labour laws themselves at the total mercy of the employers.
POST BUDGET MEETING WITH TRADE UNIONS
Successive Finance Ministers have agreed to hold post budget meetings / consultations with the central trade unions. However, it has not been materialized except for one occasion. We understand such meetings did take place with the Corporate Associations/Employers Federations. We would like to importunate upon you to arrange such post budget meeting with trade unions also.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Brijesh Upadhyay
BMS
|
S Q Jama
INTUC
|
Harbhajan Singh Sidhu
HMS
|
D L Sachdeva
AITUC
|
Tapan Sen
CITU
|
R K Sharma
AITUC
|
S P Tewari
TUCC
|
Monali
SEWA
|
Santosh Roy
AICCTU
Employment News: 24 to 30 January 2015
1. National Institute of Virology, Pune
Name of Post – Multi Tasking Staff, Technical Assistant, LDC Etc.
No. of Vacancies - 32
Last Date - 09 Feb 2015
2. Public Service Commission, Uttar Pradesh
Name of Post – Regional Inspector (Technical), Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer, Review Officer (Accounts), Assistant, LDC, Auditor Etc.
No. of Vacancies – 771
Last Date - 03 Feb 2015
3. Gramin Bank of Aryavart, Lucknow
Name of Post – Officer Scale – II (General Banking, IT, Marketing), Officer Scale – I, Office Assistant (Multipurpose)
No. of Vacancies - 493
Last Date - 31 Jan 2015
4. Airports Authority of India
Name of Post – Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control), Junior Executive (Electronics)
No. of Vacancies - 450
Last Date - Online Registration Completion 10 Feb 2015
5. Staff Selection Commission
Name of Post – Senior Radio Technician, Research Assistant, Technical Assistant
No. of Vacancies - 10
Last Date - 13 Feb 2015
Source: http://employmentnews.gov.in/
Address by the President of India on the eve of the Republic Day of India 2015
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
President’s Secretariat
25-January-2015 19:20 IST
Address by the President of India on the eve of the Republic Day of India 2015
My Fellow Citizens:
1. On the eve of the 66th Republic Day, I extend warm greetings to all of you in India and abroad. I convey my special greetings to members of our Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security Forces.
2. Twenty Sixth January holds an everlasting place in our national memory because it is the day when modern India was born. Under Mahatma Gandhi’s moral and political leadership, the National Congress passed the Purna Swaraj resolution demanding complete independence from British rule in December 1929. Gandhiji organized nationwide celebrations on 26 January 1930 as Independence Day. From then on, the Nation took a pledge on this day every year to carry on the freedom struggle till we attained it.
3. Exactly twenty years later, in 1950, we adopted our charter of
modernity, the Constitution. Tragically, Gandhiji had been martyred two years before, but the framework of a Constitution that has made India a role model for today’s world was constructed out of his philosophy. Its essence lay in four principles: democracy; freedom of faith; gender equality; and an economic upsurge for those trapped in the curse of dire poverty. These were made Constitutional obligations. Gandhiji’s talisman for the country’s rulers was simple and powerful and I quote: “Whenever you are in doubt…recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself…will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?” (unquote). Our resolve to eliminate poverty through inclusive development has to be a step in that direction.
Fellow Citizens:
4. The past year has been remarkable in many ways. Particularly because, after three decades the people have voted to power a single party with a majority for a stable government, and in the process freed the country’s governance from the compulsions of coalition politics. Outcome of these Elections has given the mandate to the elected government to fulfill its commitment to the people by using its majority for formulating policies and making laws to implement those policies. The voter has played her part; it is now up to those who have been elected to honour this trust. It was a vote for clean, efficient, effective, gender-sensitive, transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly governance.
Fellow Citizens:
5. There can be no governance without a functioning legislature. The legislature reflects the will of the people. It is the platform where progressive legislation using civilized dialogue must create delivery mechanisms for realizing the aspirations of the people. It calls for reconciling the differences amongst stakeholders and building a consensus for the law to be enacted. Enacting laws without discussion impacts the law-making role of the Parliament. It breaches the trust reposed in it by the people. This is neither good for the democracy nor for the policies relating to those laws.
Fellow Citizens:
6. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rabindranath Tagore, Subramanya Bharati and many more – the vocation and the approach might have been different but they all spoke the same language of patriotism. We owe our freedom to these great warriors of nationalism. We also salute the unsung heroes who have died securing the liberation of Mother India. But it pains me to see that Mother India is not respected by her own children when it comes to the safety of women. Atrocities of rape, murders, harassment on the roads, kidnapping and dowry deaths have made women fearful even in their own homes. Rabindranath Tagore saw women not only as the deities of the household fire, but also the flame of the soul itself. Where have we failed, as parents, teachers and leaders, that our children have forgotten all tenets of decent behaviour and respect for women? We have enacted many legislations but, as Benjamin Franklin had once said and I quote: “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are” (unquote). Every Indian must take a pledge to protect the honour of women from violence of any kind. Only a nation that respects and empowers its women can become a global power.
Fellow Citizens:
7. The Indian Constitution is the holy book of democracy. It is a lodestar for the socio-economic transformation of an India whose civilization has celebrated pluralism, advocated tolerance and promoted goodwill between diverse communities. These values, however, need to be preserved with utmost care and vigilance. The freedom inherent in democracy sometimes generates an unhappy by-product when political discourse becomes a competition in hysteria that is abhorrent to our traditional ethos. The violence of the tongue cuts and wounds people’s hearts. Religion, said Gandhiji, is a force for unity; we cannot make it a cause of conflict.
Fellow Citizens:
8. Much is said about India’s soft power. But the most powerful example of India’s soft power, in an international environment where so many countries are sinking into the morass of theocratic violence, lies in our definition of the relationship between faith and polity. We have always reposed our trust in faith-equality where every faith is equal before the law and every culture blends into another to create a positive dynamic. Wisdom of India teaches us: unity is strength, dominance is weakness.
Fellow Citizens:
9. The multi-nation conflict has converted boundaries into bloodlines, and turned terrorism into an industry of evil. Terrorism and violence are seeping across our borders. While peace, non-violence and good neighbourly intentions should remain the fundamentals of our foreign policy, we cannot afford to be complacent about adversaries who will stop at nothing to disrupt our progress towards a prosperous and equitable India. We have the strength, confidence and determination to defeat architects of this war against our people. Repeated violations of the ceasefire along the Line of Control and terrorist attacks must get an integrated response through incisive diplomacy and impregnable security mechanisms. The world must join India in fighting the menace of terrorism.
Fellow Citizens:
10. Economic progress is also a test of democracy. Year 2015 is a year of hope. Key economic indicators provide for much optimism. Strengthening of the external sector, move towards fiscal consolidation, moderation in price levels, early signs of rebound in manufacturing and record agricultural production last year augur well for our economy. Achieving five percent plus growth rates each in the first two quarters of 2014-15 is a healthy sign for an early reversion to the high growth trajectory of 7-8 percent.
11. The success of a society is measured by both survival and strengthening of its values, institutions and instruments of governance. Our national narrative has been shaped by the principles of its past, triumphs of today and is now ready to own the future by powering its latent potential.
Fellow Citizens:
12. Our national ambition is to raise the quality of life of Indians by quantum leaps and raise generations enlightened by learning, patriotism, compassion, honesty and a sense of duty. Thomas Jefferson had said and I quote: “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty” (unquote). We must strive for the highest quality in our educational institutions so that we can take our place, within a visible future, among the knowledge leaders of the 21st century. I would urge, in particular, that we lay special stress on the culture of books and reading, which takes knowledge beyond the classroom and frees imagination from stress of the immediate and the utilitarian. We must be a creative people, nourished by innumerable, interlinked rivers of ideas. Our youth must lead the way to mastery of technology and communication in a universe where the cloud has become a library without frontiers, and vast opportunity awaits within the computer in your palm. The 21st century is within India’s grasp.
Fellow Citizens:
13. This future will remain both visible and elusive if we do not discover the ability to continually cleanse ourselves of retrograde habits and social ills. Over the past century, some have died, others have faded, but many still exist. We are celebrating, this year, the centenary of Gandhiji’s return to India from South Africa. We can never cease to learn from a Mahatma. The first thing he did in 1915 was to keep his eyes open and his lips sealed. It is advisable to follow his example. While we are, justifyly, focused on 1915, perhaps we should cast a glance on what Gandhiji did in 1901, the year when he returned home for his first break. The annual Congress session was held that year in Calcutta, then the capital of British India. Gandhiji was a delegate. He went to Ripon College for a meeting. He discovered that the whole place had been dirtied by fellow-delegates. A shocked Gandhiji did not wait for any allotted cleaner. He picked up a broom and cleaned the area. No one followed his example in 1901. 114 years later, let us follow his example, and become worthy children of a magnificent father.
Jai Hind!
|
Ashok Ghosh
UCTU
|
Shanmugam
LPF
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
