President's Speech in Karla

Karla, 10th May 2010

Friends, I am extremely happy to welcome you here to place before you something  These types of political meet, as quite near from Mumbai and Pune, various political parties and other organizations always try to meet here, discuss various issues and plan their future course of actions.  We are here for two days to debate, deliberate, and discuss on the present political issues of the Nationalist Congress Party. 

The correct analysis of present political situation, of our weakness and strength, will pave a way for us to apprehend the future challenges and I am sure that this conclave will conclude with a vision document, which will guide the party in future expanding its base and rejuvenate its outlook and appeal. The delegates for this conclave is carefully selected and this is happening for the first time that a political party is in a brain storming session, which is attended by all its important national and state functionaries, by its Ministers, MP and MLAs, and by the office bearers of all its frontal organizations. The democratic discourse in the party will help us to evolve a better, coherent and meticulous approach toward the expectations of the people and to serve the cause of most downtrodden citizenry of this nation which includes, women, dalit, tribals and minorities.  Let us revisit the past and rethink the future.

As we are here to look beyond the contemporary political agenda of our time, it is a matter of satisfaction and celebration that NCP has entered into the second decade of its existence. NCP is recognized by the election commission as the national party since its inception and today we have presence in the legislative assemblies of nine states and part of government in three states – Maharashtra, Goa and Nagaland. We are expanding and at same time consolidating our prevailing bases in different parts of the country. NCP is the most responsible partner of the central government and playing significant role to enhance struggle for establishing a secular, democratic, socially just and equitable society. Our Ministers in the central government are committed towards the pro-people agenda and working efficiently in that in regard. Our work for the development of the people and the nation, help us to secure back the confidence of electorates and for the record third time we succeeded in forming the government in Maharashtra. In the central government we have three important portfolios – Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Consumer Affairs, Ministry of State for Civil Aviation, and Ministry of State for Rural Development.  Peace, Prosperity, and Progress for all is our commitment.

Dear delegates, we are living in an era where the world shrinks into a global village. Today we can communicate with one another sitting miles apart from our reach by just dialing the number on mobile. The revolution in information technology has changed our life and routines and let me say this with a pleasure that it has changed for a better. We are witness to the fact that with our excellence in IT sector India has registered its imprint globally and in this new era of globalization we achieved a rare distinction of a country growing by an average rate of more than 6 percent per year for last one decade. Only few countries in the world has succeeded in constantly maintaining the growth rate and here the hard working Indians has proved the world that we have a desire for progress and development. We should be confidence enough to strive for our future, as the future belongs to us.

The fruits of globalization are well recognized but there are some flip sides and this was recognised when the world soaring prices affected us domestically. The FAO food price index rose on an average by 52 percent from mid 2007 to mid 2008. It was in the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 that the world was jolted out its complacence which Jossette Sheeran - the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme described  as ‘silent Tsunami’.  Inspite of our best efforts to keep the prices of essential commodities under control so to make it available for every countryman there was a period of difficulty which is now passing away. The prices of Pulses, Sugar are now stable and of vegetables it coming down. Our fight against hunger and poverty will continue. 

I would also like to touch upon the issue which is close to me for being a farmer myself. As a minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs I tired my best to ensure that prosperity reaches to the rural India where more than 70 percent of our people live and some 50 percent of the total population is engaged economically.  Our pro-people policies especially the waiving of loans of 71 thousand crores of the farmers and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) had a positive impact on the life of rural mass. Keeping in view the decisions taken in the 53rd meeting of the National Development Council, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “National Food Security Mission (NFSM)” was launched from Rabi 2007-08 with an aim to increase the additional production of 20 million tonnes of foodgrains, comprising of 10 million tonnes of rice, 8 million tonnes of wheat and 2 million tonnes of pulses by the end of Eleventh Plan (2011-12).

It is also been decided that to re-orient the current agricultural development strategies to meet the needs of the farmers and for fresh efforts by the Central and State Governments to rejuvenate agriculture, so as to achieve 4% annual growth during the Eleventh Five Year Plan, a new State Plan scheme of Additional Central Assistance(ACA) for Agriculture & Allied Sectors namely Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana(RKVY) has been launched during 2007-08 with an envisaged outlay of Rs.25,000 crore for the 11th Five Year Plan. Considering the relevance of this scheme the government announced the 300 crore for this project in this year budget.  I would also like to mention about the Macro Management Scheme which is one of the centrally sponsored schemes aim at all round development in agriculture through Work Plans prepared by States. The salient features of the Revised Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme include a new allocation criteria, provision of assistance to the States/UTs as 100% grant, rationalization of subsidy and cost norms, inclusion of new components, earmarking of funds for the weaker and disadvantages sections among the farmers, formulation of Work Plans based on District Agriculture Plans with active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The National Horticulture Mission is being implemented since the year 2005 for ensuring a holistic development of the horticulture sector having backward and forward linkages with an end-to-end approach covering research, production, post harvest management, processing and marketing, with active participation of all stakeholders. The centrally sponsored scheme on Micro Irrigation was launched during January 2006. The objective of the scheme is to promote micro irrigation – a technology for enhancing water use efficiency which in turn increase results increase in crop yield (30-100%), reduction in fertilizer intake (upto 40% and labour cost etc.). As you must be aware of this fact that  rainfed areas constitutes about 60% of the total cultivable land of about 142 million hectares in the country., Recognizing this the Government of India has set up a National Rainfed Area Authority in 2007 to provide much needed knowledge inputs regarding systematic up-gradation and management country’s dry land  rainfed agriculture.

Soil is the base of agriculture and it is necessary to utilize the available scientific and technological knowledge to improve on the quality and quantity of the harvest.  The Government of India is promoting soil test-based balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with bio-fertilizers and organic manures to maintain soil health and its productivity under the programme of Integrated Nutrient Management through various schemes.  To safeguard the interest of farmers, bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers have been brought under the statutory regulatory mechanism.  India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers in the world after China and the USA, and contributes about 11.4 and 11.9 per cent to the total world production/consumption of NPK nutrients respectively

Seeds is another basic and critical input for agricultural production. The Indian Seeds Programme recognizes third generation seeds namely, breeder, foundation and certified seeds. For the Seed Development Programmes, an outlay of Rs.114.57 crore was approved at the time of Budget Estimates(B.E.) for the year 2007-08 which was subsequently increased to Rs.413.98 crore at the time of Revised Estimates(R.E.) against which an actual expenditure of Rs.432.04 crore was incurred. 

In this year budget also rural India was given the due importance as it constitute the backbone of our nation. Agriculture sector occupies the centre-stage in our resolve to promote inclusive growth, enhance rural incomes and sustain food security. For meet the desired results the government intends to follow four-pronged strategy covering, agriculture production, reduction in wastage of produce, credit support to farmers, and thrust to the food processing sector.  The strategy relates to reduction of significant wastage in storage as well as in the operations of the existing food supply chains in the country need be addressed. We have to work on plan to bring down the considerable difference between the farm gates prices, whole sale prices and retail prices. The wastage of the grain procured for the buffer stock and public distribution system through the ongoing scheme for private sector participation where the Food Corporation of India has been hiring godowns from private parties for a guaranteed period of 5 years. 12. The credit to farmers need to be made easy and in this direction public sector banks are consistently meeting the target set for agriculture credit flow in the past few years. For the year 2010-11, the target has been raised to 3,75,000 crore from 3,25,000 crore in the current year. In this it is also significant to note that considering the recent drought in some states and severe floods in some part of the country the government has extended the period of repayment of the loans amount by farmers from December 31, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

NCP’s thrust on modernization and equitable development is also reflected in the work of our energetic colleagues Shri Praful Patel - Minister of State for Civil Aviation, who has left no stone unturned in the rebuilding the aviation sector of the country by insulating it form damaging impact of global recession. The effort to transform the civil aviation sector and to meet the requirements of the new India will reach its destination under the able stewardship of Mr. Patel. The youngest Minister of world Ms. Agatha Sangma – Minister of State for Rural Development, also the symbol of tribal women emancipation is carrying forward the legacy of NCP in delivering to the rural masses specially the rural women who are the most venerable section of our society and setting an example of duty with responsibility.

Dear delegates, as I mentioned earlier that we are the citizen of the new age, very different from our earlier imagination and we require a comprehensive policy approach to address the problems, aspirations and demand of the people. We are duty bound towards the people of our nation and thus, meeting the future demands is one of our primary concerns and the theme of this conclave. We are standing in a time when the global temperature is rising, climate is becoming unpredictable and green house gases are now leading us to fight for our survival. Climate change and its repercussions are going to dominate the future of word politics and we need to formulate our response for this. India is a developing country and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh rightly placed the concern of the nation at Copenhagen. We are on the verge of growth and development and blaming us for the present ills is not going to solve the problem. World community need to take the share the responsibility and developed world has to play a pivotal role in ensuring the survival of mankind on the planet earth. This is the right time for us to think, convert and act. Our country has its own part to play and NCP assures of extending all possible help in making the world a better place to live and promoting the concept of sustainable development both in theory and practice.

Terrorism is another international problem which inflicted our nation for a long time. I salute the people of the nation who time and again rebuffed all the objectives of terrorist to create fissure between the people. The people of Maharahtra need applaud who bravely fought every terrorist action and never allowed the terrorist to dampen their sprit. I appeal to you all to work in the direction of defeating the nefarious design of the terrorism in Maharsatra and also in the entire country.  The consistent, planned and tough battle against the enemies of humanity is the only way to put them at the brink. South Asia is the region which is vulnerable to terrorist acts and thus, it is the responsibility of all the countries of the sub-continent to jointly fight the menace of terrorism. The honest cooperation and effort to establish peace in the region need sincere initiative from the across the border. NCP, support the friendly ties amongst the nations of South Asia to overcome the persisting problems of human development. The future of South Asia lies in cooperation.

NCP, from its inception is devoted to social justice and this is reflected in our policy and programmes. We provided crucial support to the Women Reservation Bill, which coincides with our vision of women empowerment.  I would like to remember Mahatam Phule, who was aware of the condition of women in Indian society and thus, the great social reformer advocated equal share to women in all aspect of life. The participation of women in democratic process will going to change in leap and bounds, and it will influence the Indian polity. Amongst our nine Lok Sabha member two are women but we need to increase this number. We are rightly been at a place in the national conclave when we need to strategies as how to increase the membership of women in NCP and to develop better leadership from them. The rightful share to the women in NCP was always there and there is a need to make further addition in it. 

We have to be very sensitive towards the demographic change of our country where more then half of the present population in youth. It is a matter of pride that our literacy rate in last couple of decades has gone up and the young India is more confident and has dream for a bright future. NCP has to address the aspiration of the young India; the future of our party is in accommodating youth and entrusting them with responsibility in the party organization. The party policy and document should incorporate the vision for Indian teenagers who are secular, sensitive, progressive and patriotic. In the party organization special emphasises is required to include the young blood who will be our future investment.

Friends, in the changed situation governance is the key word for every government. Development is the main political agenda on the 21 century India. The politicians who failed the people are rejected by them. The strength of the democracy is in the general people and NCP has to be development oriented in its approach.  The deliverance of promise helped us to win back the support of the people but in future also we have to be on our toes for meeting the development requirements of the people. The equitable growth has to be assured by all our members who are in different ministries at the centre and state level. In sates we are in power has to articulate the development policies in reality. In other states where we have significant political presence we need play a responsible role for making development as an agenda of the people. This is a progressive change in the national politics and also a satisfaction that the fight of NCP to marginalize the communal and disruptive political forces is endorsed by the larger section. 

While discussing growth we need to be extra sensitive towards the rural areas as India lives in villages. NCP, which essentially has its root in the villages, needs to be extra cautious as far as development in rural India is concerned. Nations and societies cannot develop without acknowledging the fact that equal distribution of growth in all areas is a pre condition for bringing prosperity to any nation. Therefore I urge to all leaders and activists of NCP not only to play active role in developmental programmes of rural India but also be innovative in the approach while doing so. This will have positive dual effect on both country and party.

Since we are discussing on the future NCP we also need to underline some critical facts. We are a national party with accountability and responsibility but there is lot of scope for us to spread out in different parts of the country. I would like to emphasize that there is a need for the party to consolidate its base and to expand in all the directions of the country. We are small party but comparing with our age we are also a new party in a democracy of 60 years. There are limitations of being a small party but has the opportunity as well to learn from the past, to reorient the present, and to envisage the future. We are not novice in the Indian politics and understand it from the core, but there is need to utilize our experience, to train the youth, and to march ahead in the search of success. With my own experience of working with you I am confident enough to once again reiterate that NCP in future will contribute qualitatively in Indian politics.

I am avoiding unnecessary repetition of many several issues. I appeal to the entire delegates to properly utilize the next two days so that at the end we will return with a new vision for the party, society and nation. This is a proper occasion to put in place our experiences, intellect, and share our ideas for the future NCP.

All the best, Thank You, Jai Hind.