Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN
UNION MINISTER OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND STEEL
I am very happy to be present in the midst of this august gathering on
this important occasion. The last meeting of NIC was held in 2005, which
itself had been held after a gap of 12 years. In the last meeting, I had voiced a
general concern that the meeting of NIC should be called once every year. It is
nonetheless, an improvement over the record of the previous Governments.
On this occasion, I would like to congratualte the Prime Minister and his
colleagues for steering this nation on the path of progress and prosperity. It is
a matter of great pride that this Government by concluding the Indo-US
Nuclear Agreement has finally ended 34 year old regime of 'Nuclear apartheid',
opening the doors for accessing high-end nuclear technology to power
accelerated growth of our economy. Even the risk of sacrificing the Government
did not waver the determination and commitment of this Government
which put the national interest above every thing else and went ahead to
conclude the agreement. In the last four years, we have further strengthened
relations with our neighbours. Our standing in the international arena has
significantly gone up. India is seen as an economic power of the future. Our
entrepreneurs, our IT professionals and a vast Diaspora of highly qualified India
are achieving success in many countries. India has the image of a progressive,
secular and mature democracy. This has been made possible by the commitment
and vision of our founding fathers like Mahatma Gandhi. Baba Sahib
Ambedkar and Jawahar Lal Nehru among others. On the domestic front,
I must say that this Government has been able to maintain relative calm in the
insurgency prone regions by strengthening the peace initiatives and by
adopting people-friendly policies to bring them closer to the national mainstream.
On the economic front also, the UPA Government deserves accolades for
ensuring rapid growth of the economy, bringing about a paradigm shift in its
emphasis on inclusive growth and by taking care of the special needs of all
segments of our diverse society. Dalits, minorities, farmers and the poor and the
deprived have been given special focus in the governance agenda. Manifold rise
in the social, educational and infrastructure spending by the Government, empowerment
of the common man by bringing Right to Information Act and introduction
of a legally enforceable guarantee for seasonal employment for the rural poor
in the form of NREGA have been shining examples of the commitment of this
Government to the cause of the common man. Sachar Committee report for
all round development of the minorities and the report of the Committee on
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