New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today sought the cooperation of all major political parties in getting the Lokpal and Lokayukta bill passed in Rajya Sabha at the earliest. The bill has been passed by Lok Sabha already.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of historic Red Fort here on India's 66th Independence Day, Dr Singh said that the cooperation of all major parties was required to get the much-awaited bill passed.
"We hope that all political parties will help us in passing the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill in the Rajya Sabha." , he said.
The Prime Minister said, his cabinet has approved the Mars Orbital Mission plan for the launch of Mangalyaan which will orbit the Red Planet.
Following are the major points in the Prime Minister's I-Day speech today:
* Rajiv Housing Loan Scheme to be launched soon for relief on interest in loans upto Rs 5 lakh for economically weaker sections
* It will be our endeavour to ensure that all households benefit from bank accounts in the next 2 years."
* Assam violence very unfortunate; Will make every effort to understand reasons behind it to ensure it is not repeated
* Bad monsoon poses difficulty in controlling inflation
* Pune bomb blasts point to need for much more work in the area of national security
* Electricity for every household in the country in the next five years
* National Skills Development Authority to impart skills to 8 crore youth in the next 10 years
* PM assures new system for servicemen's pension.
* 93 per cent children in India admitted to schools, claims PM
* Not a single polio case in India in last one year, says PM
* We must win foreign investors' confidence back, says PM
* More than half households in India have bank accounts now in the last 10 years
* Every household to get electricity in next 5 years
* One out of 8 families in India today has a job card under MNREGS
* National Rural Health Mission will be converted into a National Health Mission which would cover all villages and towns
*A scheme being formulated for distribution of free medicines through government hospitals and health centres
* More than 51,000 new schools have been opened and about 7 lakh teachers appointed in last 2 years
* More than 8 crore people provided employment under MNREG scheme.
* Economic growth to be a little better this year than 6.5 per cent last fiscal.
