New Delhi: President’s customary address to the joint session of Parliament is an expression of the government’s intent – its blueprint for the next five years. From the address, it is apparent that addressing farm distress will take precedence over other matters. As a first step in this direction, Rs 25 lakh crore will be invested to improve agriculture productivity. And Rs 90,000 crores will be spent this financial year alone on providing financial aid to farmers, up from Rs 75,000 crores allocated earlier under the PM Kisan Scheme.
Again, as expected, he underscored the need to kick start the economy, so that it can catapult us into the five-trillion dollar orbit by 2024. For this to happen, India will have to grow at 11 per cent compound rate over the next six years. The other goals are equally laudable: every poor will have a pucca roof over his head; access to clean fuel; an electricity connection; will not be constrained to defecate in the open; access to medical facilities; every village will be connected by roads; river Ganga will flow uninterrupted, and pollution free, etc. But for all this development to happen, the country needs to get out of the frequent election trap. This is where the "one nation one poll" idea comes in.
Kovind said it would benefit countrymen and all political parties will be able to devote more energy to development and public welfare. The address also touched upon the commitment to press ahead with the ban on triple talaq and nikah-halala. On the economic front, the government is working on a new industrial policy.
