Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM's Independence Day Speech 2007

Key Messages:-

1. India is on the move - poverty eradication is now a feasible goal.

2. Time for a revolution in modern education. Widening access to education a key goal.

3. Farmers welfare core of all concerns. Need to bridge rural - urban divide.

4. Industrialization most effective means to create new employment opportunities.

5. India's approach to global problems based on idea of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam - whole world is one family.

6. India's composite culture and pluralism make India a "bridge between global divides".

Key Initiatives:-

1. Massive increase in public spending on Education, Health Care, Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. To promote social security in unorganized sector - Old age pension scheme for senior citizens above age of 65 and below poverty line. Life and disability cover. New Health Insurance Scheme for poor to be launched.

3. Revolution in modern education - 6000 new good quality Government funded schools. Universalisation of Secondary Education on anvil. Centre to help States set up colleges in 370 districts, to raise gross enrolment ratio. 30 new Central Universities.

4. Mission on Vocational Education and Skill Development - 1600 new Industrial Training Institutes and Polytechnics; 10,000 new Vocational Schools; 50,000 new Skill Development Centers. 100 lakh students to get Vocational Training - four fold increase from today's level.

5. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to be implemented in the entire country.

6. Special programme to invest at least Rs.25,000 crore in Agricultural Sector.

7. National policy for rehabilitation and resettlement on anvil.

8. New thrust to industrialization and planned urbanization.

9. National Campaign for Cleanliness to encourage community participation in neighbourhood improvement.