Action plan for national agenda

NEW DELHI, April 30: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has asked the Planning Commission to evolve appropriate action plans for achieving the set ...

NEW DELHI, April 30: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has asked the Planning Commission to evolve appropriate action plans for achieving the set goals listed in the national agenda in consultation with the administrative ministries concerned and the Finance Ministry. The exercise would have to be given top priority and completed within the next few weeks, Vajpayee told Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh in a letter. Copies of the letter have been sent to members of the Council of ministers.

Vajpayee recalled that in his address to the nation after assuming office he had stated that the government would go all out to achieve goals like doubling food production, making the country hunger-free in 10 years, improvement of social infrastructure, drinking water to every settlement in the country within five years etc.

For achieving these goals, the Prime Minister said that concerted efforts had to be made by the government cutting across departmental limitations with full involvement andparticipation of state governments.

Taking into account the physical, financial and human resources available, Vajpayee said concrete action plans would have to be evolved. More than one ministry or department of the central government would be involved in the finalisation and implementation of these plans in consultation with the Finance Ministry.

Rapid expansion and improvement of infrastructure 8212; power, oil, petroleum and renewable sources of energy, roads, transport, ports, airports, telecommunications and financial services 8212; was another goal Vajpayee had set. The other goals were formulation of a national water policy and making India a information technology power.

Vajpayee pledges a public grievances forum

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Thursday that the government was contemplating creation of a mechanism to redress people8217;s grievances. A joint meeting of different government fora which deal with public grievances would be held soon, he announced after meeting over 700 people and listening to their woes at his official residence during the 8220;janata darshan8221;.

8220;It seems there is no mechanism to redress people8217;s grievances at the state and local levels. It is pity that most of the people come here to get their problems with local police and administration solved,8221; Vajpayee said when asked whether the problems pointed towards failure of the system at the local level.

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The prime minister said the proposed mechanism should aim at expeditiously dealing with these problems and be quick with responses.

Earlier, Vajpayee took pains to listen to most of those who had either come individually or in groups from different parts of the country with a variety of problems 8212; mostly relating toemployment and to seek financial help.

Originally scheduled for an hour, the 8220;janata darshan8221; today went on for three hours after starting at 9.15 AM in which Vajpayee was assisted by his political advisor Pramod Mahajan and other senior officials.