Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Saturday said the central and state governments have to work together to achieve zero tolerance to terrorist activities and also called for a multi-pronged strategy to root out corruption.

Addressing the conference of governors here, Patil said public sentiment against corruption was on the rise and there was heightened expectation among the citizens from Indian polity.

“Corruption stalls development, undermines social progress, undercuts confidence in the fairness of public administration, impedes good governance, erodes the rule of law, distorts competitive conditions, dampens investments and above all hurts the common man the most. It has to be rooted out,” she said.

Patil said the remedy lay in a multi-pronged strategy which combined preventive and punitive interventions, including simpler rules, transparent processes, judicious exercise of discretion, prompt delivery systems, better public awareness, public accountability and discharge of responsibilities with utmost rectitude.

She said the country cannot lose sight of multiple challenges of left wing extremism and insurgency even as it feels proud of technological achievements.

“India’s external and internal security is paramount and requires foremost attention. Both central and state governments have to work hand in hand to fortify our security architecture, and create an effective deterrence to achieve zero tolerance of terrorist activities,” Patil said.

She said the conference will benefit from the views of governors from states which share international borders.

Turning to the plight of farmers, Patil regretted that it has not commensurately improved compared to growth in corporate and service sectors. She said rural India should be seen as a growth engine for the country to prosper.

“We must craft policies to pull out agricultural economy from the trap of low investment, low productivity and rural indebtedness. Suicide of farmers brings disgrace to our country. About 60 percent of our cultivated area is rain-fed accounting for 44 percent of our agricultural production and supporting 40 percent of our population and also livestock,” she said.

Patil said she had asked the department of public enterprises to involve the central public sector into an industry-agriculture partnership mission.

“I understand that a concept paper is on the anvil. Easier access to credit, tax holidays, economic incentives and a more open marketing system through suitable amendments in the Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act can help.

“Given your pre-eminent positions, you can provide the right lead for initiating a Second Green Revolution in the dryland farming sector, and inspire agricultural universities to develop region-specific workable models… We must work on initiating institutional arrangements and policy orientation for a farmer-centric, industry- driven, knowledge-based paradigm with enhanced competitiveness of the agri-sector being the overarching aim,” she said.

Patil said another area where the constitution casts a specific and special responsibility on the governors is the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.

“Your role acquires greater relevance since a large chunk of the Scheduled Areas is affected by left wing extremism… The functioning of the Tribes Advisory Council has to be invigorated,” the president told the governors.

Touching on the problems of ragging in educational institutions, she said the human resource development ministry had endeavoured to build a credible architecture of deterrence and many states had enacted laws.

She called upon the governors, as chancellors of the state universities, to use their persuasive influence to wipe out the blot of ragging.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Home Minister P. Chidambaram also attended the conference which is being held after three years.