President Pranab addresses Parliament: highlights

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee, making his first address to a joint gathering of MPs from both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session today, said he hoped for a productive Parliament sitting, that comes after a tough economic year.

Below are the highlights of his speech:

• I hope this session will be productive as useful
• As I speak to you, I am aware that an aspirational India is emerging
• Our youth, our greatest national assets are a confident and passionate lot
• People are concerned about security of women and children and timely delivery of their entitlements
• My govt has taken several measures to revive investment activity and investor sentiment
• There is growing anxiety about economic slowdown, job security
• Past years has been very difficult for global economy
• Most emerging markets are growing very slowly
• It has been a difficult year for India as well
• Government is responding by taking initiatives to revive investor sentiment
• Important initiative is rollout of direct benefit transfer system
• This will help cut down leakages and lead to better targeting of beneficiaries
• 12th Plan proposes to consolidate central schemes in a smaller number and increase their flexibility
• Our slower growth is the consequence of global and domestic factors
• Inflation is easing gradually but is still a problem
• My govt had announced a roadmap for fiscal consolidation; working with state governments to achieve consensus on GST
• Government is committed to enacting the national food security bill
• My government will continue to lay emphasis on development of rain-fed and degraded areas
• Govt has enhanced allotment under the Indira Awas Yojana
• Confident that the land acquisition bill will be enacted
• Rajiv Awas Yojana extended to all small and medium towns with the target of 1 million houses
• MNREGA provided employment to 5 crore families. 
• The government continues to break ground in providing employment
• My government has enacted a path breaking act - protection of children from sexual acts
• Strict punishment will be implemented
• After the JS Verma Committee recommendations, Govt has promulgated ordinance to provide stringent punishment for heinous offences against women
• Govt has also undertaken series of administrative measures to ensure safety of women
• Mid-day meal for schoolchildren started
• As far as higher education is concerned, my government encourages states for comprehensive higher education plans for students
• In January 2013, the government completed two years without a single detection of polio in the country - longest period of time
• Govt remains committed to creating a 100 million jobs within a decade
• The govt has liberalised FDI policy in single brand and multi-brand retail
• Govt remains committed to creating a 100 million jobs within a decade
• The govt has liberalised FDI policy in single brand and multi-brand retail
• Govt in the process of allocation  of 17 coal blocks to  govt companies
• More than 1 lakh unelectrified villages have been electrified
• Scheme for financial restructuring of state owned power companies
• Govt is targeting significant reduction of our dependence on imported oil and gas