Hon.
Chairman Sir, I thank you very much for allowing me
to participate in the Motion of Thanks on the Hon'ble President's Address.
The President’s Address normally covers some of the most important achievements
of the Government in the outgoing financial year, the incidents
that happened during the period, and what the Government intends
to do in the next financial year. I must say that this Address does not
focus on what the Government intends to do in the ensuing financial year. The
President’s Address is just like a progress report of a student for the
parents to vouch for100 their
child. When this Government came to power in the year 2014, it had assured the
nation that120 /// the
crime against women will be minimized. But what happened was that the crime
against women has been steadily increasing since then. It is going on unabated
and according to the National Crime Records Bureau, crime against women
is happening the most in the State of Uttar Pradesh where there is double-engine
Government. Not only this, in another State Gujarat which is also
being run by the double-engine Government, eleven convicts of Gujarat gangrape case
were released from jail in200
Gujarat's Godhra town after the State Government approved their application for
remission of sentence. So, this is the reality. This Address does not
say anything about the prevention of crimes against women.
Unemployment
is a big issue the nation is240
/// facing. The unemployment level has surpassed all previous records
and the youths of our country are losing hope even after attaining higher
degrees or qualifications. The unemployment rate in urban areas
increased to 10 per cent in December, 2022. It is predicted to rise in the next
few years. The wrong implementation of GST and300
demonetization forced closure of job-creating avenues which made our
youths roam here and there in search of jobs. But the President’s Address
says nothing on the creation of jobs. India is considered as a nation of
youths, and if their hope is shattered, it will be a very shameful thing.
The country has been witnessing continued increase in the360 /// price of all essential
commodities and the poorer section of our population is mostly affected on
this account. A reduced income due to reduction in jobs on one side,
and high cost of all essential commodities on the other, have400 made the life of the poor miserable and
the President’s Address does not show any concern towards them. Prices of petrol
and diesel have nearly doubled since the year 2014 whereas the
international price of crude oil has decreased. The reduced international price
of crude oil has no bearing effect on the prices at which petrol and diesel
are being sold in India. The present record price on diesel has led to an
increase in the cost of480 ///
all essential commodities. In the case of cooking gas, the price has been
tripled to nearly Rs. 1200 per500
cylinder whereas the same was available at Rs. 400 or so when the UPA Government
was there till May, 2014. Due to this exorbitant cost of cooking gas,
the households are facing acute problems and are unable to make both ends meet.
Even the beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme were not able to refill the
second cylinders. But they find no mention in the President’s Address. The
farmers of our nation have been demanding guaranteed Minimum Support Price
for their produce. It was assured to them that this issue will be addressed and
the farmers600 /// called
off their year-long strike in the national capital. But these farmers now feel that
they have been cheated and the Government has gone back on its
promise. Their demand for guaranteed Minimum Support Price was based on the
fact that the cost of all input materials and the labour charges has
gone up drastically and there is even a proposal to withdraw or reduce
subsidy on fertilizer due to budget deficit as well as international
pressures. Therefore, the farmers fear that the cost of farming will go up to a
level which cannot be affordable for small and marginal700 farmers.
But in this Address, there has been no mention of guaranteed Minimum
Support Price, except setting up of Farmer720 /// Producer Organisations. The
fact is that such an organization is already existing for the same
purpose in the name of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Most of
the political parties and experts have been demanding a debate on the
aggression by China at the Line of Actual Control, but the Government is
not willing to do so. There are reports that the Chinese Army is very much
inside our territory in some pockets. The locals in Arunachal Pradesh800 have
been complaining about this. Clashes between our soldiers and the Chinese army
have been reported quite often. We lost our 20 brave soldiers at the hands of
the Chinese army in Galwan valley earlier. China is creating all types840 /// of infrastructure at the Line
of Actual Control. But I am sorry to say that nothing has been
elaborated in detail in the President’s Address.
Another
issue which I would like to deal with here is about unemployment again.
There are a huge number of posts vacant in Central Government
departments. In Indian Railways alone, more than three lakh posts900 are lying vacant. Merely issuing
appointment letters to a few thousands of job seekers is no solution when the
backlog is huge. But the President’s Address does not tell us when the Government
is going to fill up these vacancies running into several lakhs. Due to
implementation of policies without consulting the State Governments, several
State Governments are facing huge960
/// fiscal stress, forcing many developmental projects and social
welfare schemes to be put on hold, but at the same time the States are
not allowed to borrow money beyond a limit. States had to approach the
Central Government to allow1000
them to borrow money to run their Government. This serious issue found no place
in the Address.
I
would like to mention another important issue here. Millions of
people are living in areas adjoining to protected forests from time immemorial
with all legal rights. But now they live in fear on account of creation
of Eco Sensitive Zone of one kilometre from demarcated boundary. These people
are saying that the one-kilometre criteria will make them homeless and small business
establishments1080 /// that
are providing livelihood for them will also be shut down. Not only this,
many religious structures have also1100
to be removed, in addition to loss of agricultural lands. However, no
mention has been made in the President’s address about this serious issue.
There are reports of starvation and the implementation of PMGKAY
was an attestation of it. Merely distributing a few kilograms of food grains
cannot eradicate poverty. The Government has to take some steps to ensure the prosperity
of the poorer section which is a huge part of our population, but the
President’s Address has no mention of it.1186
