Agriculture will receive Rs. 25,000 crores from Centre: PM “Farm displaced labour can be employed only by industrilisation”

Prime minister Manmohan Singh said that the government will pursue major industrialization policies and unveil a Rs 25,000 crore investment plan for agriculture to create jobs and remove poverty. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, Singh said: “Poverty eradication is now a feasible goal,” which would require creating new job opportunities outside agriculture.

He added, however, that the government’s main emphasis will be on agriculture, for which a special Rs 25,000 crores investment programme to enhance food production and livelihood of farmers will be launched. “We will also focus on the needs of our farmers in dry and drought prone regions. I am touring a few states top personally review the agricultural situation across the country,” he said.

Singh pointed out that there is no “ magic wand “ for removing poverty which can only be done through sustained economic growth and development. It was essential to create new employment opportunities for which industrialization was critical. “ Remember, there is no developed country anywhere in the world that is not an industrial economy. Industrialization is critical for progress, “ he said.

The prime Minister promised that it would be the responsibility of hs government to ensure that any displacement on account of industrialization did not lead to impoverishment. He said the government would ensure that those who lose land do not lose livelihood and those who have lost employment get better opportunities.

A national policy for rehabilitation and resettlement is being given final shape involving launch of major projects for those displaced by industrialization. The Prime Minister said that if employment generation was necessary for poverty removal then industrialization was the most effective means to create new jobs.
“In the past 60 years, many parts of our country have benefited from industrial development. In the next decade, I want to see every region of the country to similarly benefit from the growth of modern industry. We will pursue policies that will help in our country’s rapid industrialization,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the industrialization and the accompanying urbanization would generate demand for the first rate infrastructure. “The expansion and modernization of our highways, roads, railways and airports is visible proof our efforts to meet this demand. “Much more is needed and will be done,” he said , adding that the country needs to put in and generation of power.
He asked the state governments to make serious efforts for ensuring that everybody gets good quality power at affordable process. “A weak power situation can become a handicap in industrialization and job creation,” Singh said. The Prime Minister also laid emphasis on skill development for which the government will soon launch a Mission on Vocational Education and Skill development.

Under this programme the government will open 1,600 new industrial training institutes (ITSs ) and polytechnics, and 10,000 new vocational schools and 50,000 new skill development centres. “We will ensure that annually over 10 lakh students get vocational training –which is a four-fold increase from today’s level,” the Prime Minister said.

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