Following are the highlights of President Pratibha Patil’s address to the joint sitting of members of Parliament:

* The government’s priorities are to combat inflation and protect the common man from the impact of rising food prices;

* To address frontally the concern regarding the lack of probity and integrity in public life;

* To sustain the momentum of economic growth, while ensuring that the poor, the weak and the disadvantaged get a fair share in the fruits of growth;

* To maintain an uncompromising vigil on the internal and external security fronts;

* To pursue a foreign policy which will ensure that our voice is heard and our interests are protected in global forum.

* The long term solution (to inflation) lies in increasing productivity and production.

* The government stands committed to ensuring that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce.

* The government will bring a Food Security Law.

* A Group of Ministers is considering all measures to tackle corruption and improve transparency.

* The Group to consider issues of formulation of a public procurement policy, review and abolition of discretionary powers of Ministers, introduction of an open and competitive system of exploiting natural resources, fast tracking of cases against public servants charged with corruption, amendments to laws to facilitate quicker action against public servants.

* The government has constituted a committee on electoral reforms to fast track the process.

* The details of the National Mission for Delivery of Justice and Legal Reforms are expected to be finalised soon.

* The government fully shares concern about ill—effects of black money. It will spare no effort in bringing back to India what belongs to it and to bring the guilty to book.

* The government to extend coverage of private FM radio to all cities with a population of one lakh and above.

* The Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act is proposed to be replaced with a new piece of legislation.

* It is hoped that constitutional amendment bill to provide reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures will be considered by Lok Sabha at the earliest.

* The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill has been introduced. The government proposes to bring a bill on protection of children from sexual offences.

* Jammu and Kashmir interlocutors have been engaged fruitfully in their endeavours.

* Special attention to indigenous development of defence technologies. The indigenous multi—role light combat aircraft, Tejas, is being inducted into the Indian Air Force.

* With Pakistan we seek a peaceful resolution of issues through a meaningful dialogue so long as Pakistan does not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against India.

* Egypt has recently seen momentous developments. As a democracy, we welcome the dawn of democracy elsewhere.

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