Saturday, October 8 2005 09:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Oct 8, 2005) said his Government had fulfilled three-fourth of the commitments undertaken in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

Addressing the Congress Chief Ministers' Conclave here, he said that his Government will make sure that at least 80 per cent of the vacancies in SC/ST reservation quota jobs in Government will be filled on a time-bound basis.

Singh, who was addressing the second day of the conclave in the presence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said scholarships for higher education for SC/ST students have been significantly increased.

He asserted that Congress had returned to power at the Center 'not just on a wave of resentment' against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but equally on a wave of hope and faith in our ability to provide a government that cares. It was a positive vote for a secular and liberal Government, a forward-looking and modernizing Government, an inclusive and transparent Government.

"I am pleased to report that in the 16 months that the Government of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has been in office, we have implemented nearly three-fourths of the commitments undertaken in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP)."

Singh said the most important contribution of Congress in Government has been to bring the nation back to the politics of moderation and the economics of equity and development.

'The weaker sections of society feel a new sense of belonging'

The weaker sections of society 'the marginalized, the depressed, the minorities' feel a new sense of belonging and ownership in the destiny of the country, the Prime Minister said.

Singh urged the State Governments to pay special attention to fulfillment of commitments made to Dalits and Tribals at the state level.

"A Group of Ministers on Dalit Affairs is monitoring our efforts to promote the welfare of Scheduled Castes," he added.

He said that the Government has taken several steps to ensure that the commitments already made in respect ofempowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is fulfilled in a time-bound manner.

The Prime Minister said that the Central Government will make sure that at least 80 per cent of the vacancies in the SC/ST reservation quota jobs in the Government will be filled on a time-bound basis.

"Scholarships for higher education for SC/ST students have been significantly increased," he said.

Singh said the Government has taken several steps to empower Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities, Women, children, the disabled, senior citizens and people living in far reaches of the country.

A bill to provide for reservation of posts in civil services has been introduced, he added.

Singh said that to upgrade rural infrastructure, the UPA government has conceived a time-bound business plan under the Bharat Nirman programme.

Asserting that it was a flagship programme for the Government, he said "We are committing over Rs 1,74,000 crore to it. Bharat Nirman should unleash the growth potential of our villages."

In the next four years we need to ensure that every habitation has potable water. Every village of over 1,000population or over 500 in hilly and tribal areas, must have an asphalted road, Singh said adding every village must have electricity and telephone connectivity.

"We must also ensure that over one crore hectares of land is irrigated and at least 60 lakh houses are built," he said.

"Bharat Nirman will be our legacy. Like the rural employment guarantee Act, its success too will depend critically on your commitment to rural employment" the Prime Minister said.

He said he was asking officials that the entire programme be made web-based so that citizens can monitor the progress. He told the Chief Ministers of 15 Congress-ruled states and the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir that the party Governments must take the lead in Bharat Nirman.

"It is an agenda that addresses the basic needs of our people in rural areas," he said.

"I request each Chief Minister to set up his monitoring system to ensure Bharat Nirman is achieved ahead of schedule in Congress-ruled states," he added.