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BJP National Executive commends humanistic approach to economy building

BJP lauds govt's commitment to swadeshi economy

BJP salutes farmers for 5.3 pc agricultural growth

The executive ''commended'' the Vajpayee government's decision to reorient approach towards economic development by integrating human development on the lines of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's integral humanism and the thinking of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

The proposed Education Guarantee Scheme to provide an elementary school within a radius of one kilometre (with a target of 180,000 schools within three years), improvement in primary healthcare system with a target of covering every household, proposal to provide shelter to all by the end of the Ninth Plan under the Samagara Awas Yojana, and the decision to provide ten kilograms of foodgrain free of cost to aged persons under the Annapurna Scheme show humanistic approach to economic development by the BJP-led government, the resolution said.

The proposal to involve gram panchayat, gram sabha, and local self-help development groups would not only ensure speedy and efficient implementation of these schemes but also better utilisation of funds with minimisation of leakage in the system. ''During 1999-2000, which is appropriately declared the Gram Sabha Year, let a new era of democratic system be heralded with empowerment of the lowest layer.''

The party appealed to its cadres to play a role of "vigilant watch dog'' so as to ensure speedy and efficient implementation of various developmental schemes. The party would arrange state level conventions to educate cadres about new directions and philosophy of the government.

Referring to the handloom sector, the resolution said it provides large employment potentialities next only to agriculture. However, of late, this traditional skill is on the verge of collapse mainly because of inadequate financial, design and marketing support.

Proposal to give all-round support to the handloom sector under the the Deendayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana and fiscal incentives to branded small scale units (along with appointment of the committee to study their problems) would go a long way in promoting tiny and small units with better marketing, design guidance and financial assistance. This would increase employment opportunities and export earnings.

The party believes in providing a transparent, rule-based rather than discretionary or arbitrary decision-making. The second Budget has taken a giant step in this direction by reducing the number of basic excise and customs tariff rates so that there is little scope for discretionary fixing of tariffs. It has also given up its powers for grant of ad hoc exemptions.

The special emphasis on housing and infrastructural development such as power, telecom, roads and ports involving private sector and foreign investors and various rural development schemes should also help in revival of the industrial sector through improved purchasing capacity and aggregate demand, the resolution said.

The party has been advocating for long that the country should be made debt free at the earliest, the first step towards which should be control over unproductive government expenditure.

The national executive committee, therefore, commends the government's efforts in this direction through bold steps such as cutting down subsidy of more than Rs 17 billion to people above the poverty line, abolition of four secretary-level posts, proposal to bring down revenue deficit to zero level by the next four years and above-all, the decision to appoint Expenditure Reforms Commission to rationalise government expenditure.

Measures to promote domestic research and development, fiscal incentives to tackle problems relating to Y2K and encouragement to information technology show government's resolve to upgrade technological base in the country so as to meet consumer's ultimate right for quality product with minimum possible price.

The various initiatives taken to strengthen information technology sector would enable it to build on the advantage it already enjoys in international markets and provide for a large number of high-value job creation. This would enhance the country's competitive strength in international markets so as to lead the country into the next millennium with confidence.

The committee ''applauded'' the government, especially the prime minister, for articulating concern of the developing countries in economic development and international economic cooperation at the recently held G-15 meeting in Jamaica.

The party strongly believes that under the BJP-led government, the country would emerge as a natural leader of the developing countries and be in a position to uphold and protect their economic interests in the future negotiations for multilateral treaties.

While urging the government to pay adequate attention towards time-bound implementation of economic measures, the party appealed to all sections of society to give a fair chance to the government in implementing the policies and programmes so that the country stands up among the comity of nations with pride as it enters the next century.

The party believes in the philosophy of providing a government that empowers rather than obstructs people and facilitates production activities -- a government not for its own sake or for its employees but a government truly of the people and for the people, the resolution said.

UNI

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