With scams denting its image, the Government has pledged to usher in reforms for greater transparency, probity and accountability in governance and to enact a slew of legislations to tackle bribery by domestic and foreign public officials.
In an hour-long address to the joint sitting of Parliament, President Pranab Mukherjee also touched on various issues like slower growth of economy and steps to deal with factors responsible for the slowdown.
Against the backdrop of the recent gang-rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi, he expressed deep concerns over incidents of sexual offences against women and referred to the promulgation of an ordinance providing for stringent punishment in such cases.
“My Government remains committed to ushering in reforms for greater transparency, probity, integrity and accountability in governance,” said Mukherjee, days after the country was rocked by yet another scam in the Rs 3,600-crore deal for purchase of VVIP helicopters from an Italian company AugustaWestland.
“To this end, my Government attaches priority to the enactment of legislation proposed in the Whistle Blowers’ Protection Bill, the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, Citizens’ Right to Grievance Redress Bill, and The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, which already stand introduced in Parliament,” he said.
Prevention of corruption
The President said the Government is also considering amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act to punish the guilty and protect the honest public servants “more effectively”.
The address, a constitutional requirement, marks the commencement of the Budget session of Parliament.
Judicial reforms
Mukherjee also announced that the Government proposes to introduce the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill in this session as a “significant” measure towards judicial reforms.
The President devoted a considerable part of the speech to the economic situation and the burden of gathering anxieties about slowdown, job security and employment prospects.
“People are concerned about the security of our women and children. They are also anxious about timely delivery of their entitlements and about persisting social and economic inequality,” he said.
Global slowdown
Mukherjee said the past year has been “very difficult one” for the global economy. “Europe is in recession. Most emerging markets are growing very slowly. It has been a difficult year for India also. Both global and domestic factors have affected our growth.
“We need to address the impact of both. My Government has responded to the situation by taking several measures to revive investment activity and investor sentiment,” he said.
Mukherjee, who was Finance Minister before his election as President last July, noted that the Indian economy is currently experiencing slower growth.
“Real GDP grew 5.4 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal year. This is significantly lower than the average of around 8 per cent in the last decade. Our slower growth is the consequence of a combination of global and domestic factors,” he said.