The Hindu Business Line : PM promises policies for rapid industrialisation

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday asserted that industrialisation was critical for progress and that it offered “new opportunities and hope, especially for people in rural areas displaced by agrarian change.”

In his address on the 61st Independence Day here today, Dr Singh promised that the Government would pursue policies that would help in rapid industrialisation, while reassuring farmers that their welfare was at the core of all concerns.

The Prime Minister said that the final shape being given to a national policy for rehabilitation and resettlement for all those displaced by major projects would ensure that displacement did not lead to impoverishment; that those who lose land do not lose livelihoods and those who have lost employment get better opportunities.

“India cannot become a nation with islands of high growth and vast areas untouched by development. It is, therefore, essential that we create new employment opportunities outside of agriculture.

“If employment generation is the best weapon against poverty, then industrialisation is the most effective means to create new job opportunities”

Initiatives

The Prime Minister announced a slew of initiatives including extension of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act across the country, a programme to invest Rs 25,000 crore in agriculture and old age pension to citizens over 65 years and living below the poverty line.

The Government also plans to open 1,600 new industrial training institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics, 10,000 vocational schools, 50,000 skill development centres and provide vocational training to 100 lakh students annually with the active help of private sector.