U.P.A. Government:
Progress with welfare and Social Justice
The following is the text of the Statement issued by Dr. K.Veeramani on 27 June 2008:
The various achievements of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre are historic and of permanent value.
The series of Welfare programmes:
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s cabinet of the UPA under the Chairmanship of Ms. Sonia Gandhi has accomplished the following achievements:
The passage of Right to Information Act,
Enactment of a law giving women property rights equal to men,
Protecting women by law from domestic violence,
Special measures to protect the interests of the minority communities,
Separate department to promote the welfare of minorities,
Various welfare measures to safeguard the interests of the oppressed communities, namely SCs and STs,
Providing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs for the first time in Central educational institutions, denied for 57 years - this has been achieved inspite of the uncooperative attitude of the bureaucracy and judiciary.
There are several other achievements.
The good news of filling up 29,000 vacancies
Yesterday, on 26 June, the Cabinet that met under Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, cleared the way for a special recruitment drive to fill the backlog of around 29,000 OBC vacancies in government jobs. This really shows this Government’s very gre at interest in upholding Social Justice.
The Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Kalaignar Karunanidhi, is India’s elder statesman who, as a true disciple of Periyar, has as his ideal the winning of Social Justice. His guidance bears fruit in the shape of such decisions.
There are about 29,000 jobs that remain vacant on the basis of 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs, accumulated over time. As it is done in the case of STs and SCs, now they are carried forward in the case of OBCs as well. The decision to fill up these vacancies is really a laudable one.
This adds sparkling diamond on the crown of the Union Government functioning under UPA.
The normal rule that reserved seats cannot exceed 50 per cent of the total seats being filled is not applicable in the case of this special recruitment drive to clear the backlog. This is a clear, courageous and fully justified decision.
Panchayat Raj Bodies :
The former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi wanted to revitalise the Panchayat Raj System. It was according to the scheme laid down by him the constitution was amended in 1992 to strengthen local bodies. Articles 243 D(6) dealing with Panchayat Raj provides scope for reservation of seats for backward classes while reserving 33 per cent seats for women. In the same manner, while passing the Women’s Reservation Bill, they should give scope for sub-reservation, thus promoting Gender Justice combined with Social Justice. It should be passed in that shape in the coming session of the Parliament. This will enable the UPA Government to get the support of women, deprived social sections and minorities - they constitute 80 per cent of the population of the country.
Great humanitarian steps like waiver of farmers’ loans to the tune of Rs. 60 to 70 thousand crores have earned the gratitude of the people of India.
Now the Union Government should give priority to keep down the price level and control the inflationary trend. It will ensure that people do not fall into the trap of the religious fundamentalists.
So far, the several achievements of the Central Government have shown that it is on the sure path of promoting the welfare of all. We congratulate it!
