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The UPA Government would like investments in infrastructure to double to Rs 40 lakh crore during the Twelfth Plan beginning 2012, the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, said here on Monday. Investments in infrastructure have been pegged at over Rs 20 lakh crore during the Eleventh Plan.
Addressing a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, Ms Patil said that the huge quantum of investment proposed for the Twelfth Plan cannot be funded by government alone. It needs to be supplemented by private participation, she said.
“My government has put in place the required framework for a transparent public-private partnership. The contribution of the private sector has reached 34 per cent of the total investment in infrastructure last year”, Ms Patil said.
She also highlighted the progress made in airport development where a state-of-the-art integrated terminal has been operationalised in Delhi last year, making a new beginning in setting up world class infrastructure in this sector with public-private participation.
Integrity in public life
On the runaway inflation in the economy, Ms Patil said that the Government's foremost priority in 2011-12 will be to combat inflation and, in particular, take steps to protect the common man from the impact of rising food prices.
“My government is deeply concerned over the adverse impact of inflation on the aam aadmi and the threat it poses to the growth momentum. It has taken a number of pro-active measures to counteract the ill-effects of inflation”, Ms Patil said.
She also said that the Government is committed to address frontally the concern regarding the lack of probity and integrity in public life. “My Government stands committed to improving the quality of governance and enhancing transparency, probity and integrity in public life”. The President highlighted that a Group of Ministers is considering all measures, including legislative and administrative, to tackle corruption and improve transparency.
On the black money allegedly stashed away in foreign banks, Ms Patil said that the Government will spare no effort in bringing back to India what belongs to it and to bring the guilty to book.
“The issue of black money has attracted a lot of attention in the recent past, especially that allegedly stashed away in foreign banks. Government fully shares the concern about the ill-effects of black money whether generated by evasion of taxes on income earned legitimately or through illegal activities. My government stands committed to tackling the menace frontally”, she said.
The President, however, noted that this requires diligent, sustained effort by all law-enforcement agencies, including those of State Governments.
Among the foremost priorities of the Government in 2011-12 will be sustaining the momentum of economic growth, while ensuring that the poor, the weak and the disadvantaged get a fair share in the fruits of growth, she noted.
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