SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS - 2011

New Delhi, 29th October 2011

It gives me immense pleasure to meet you all here once again. A very warm welcome and Diwali greetings to you all. Your presence in the Conference inspite of its timing coinciding with festival season, speaks volumes of your enthusiasm and eagerness to participate in it.

2. The last Conference was held in September 2008. In between we unfortunately lost three Governors, Shri Shivcharan Mathur, Shri S.K. Singh, Smt. Prabha Rau and one Lt. Governor, Shri Govind Singh Gurjar while in office. We place on record our appreciation of their valuable contributions, and express our sense of profound sorrow in their passing away. I share the grief of the people of Sikkim, many of whom lost their lives and livelihood in the recent earthquake.

3. The Fifteenth General Elections were concluded in May 2009, with Dr. Manmohan Singh unanimously re-elected a second time, as the Prime Minister heading the UPA -II Government. I would like to congratulate 18 Governors and Lt. Governors who are attending the Conference for the first time. This time we will miss the scholarly vision of our Vice President who is attending the CHOGM Summit in Australia.

4. The recommendations made during the previous Conference have largely been acted upon. An Action Taken Report was circulated in 2010 and followed up with a Supplementary Action Taken Report in June 2011. On the issue of allowances to former Governors, MHA is supportive of the idea of providing secretarial assistance to the tune of Rs. 10,000 per month, on reimbursable basis. The procedural modalities would be worked out in consultation with the State governments. The proposal to issue identity cards to former Governors will also be worked out by MHA soon.

5. I would like to express my deep sense of appreciation for the comprehensive recommendations submitted by a Committee of Governors for speedy socio-economic development and empowerment of women, which I had appointed after our last meeting in 2008. The report was considered by a Group of Ministers and approved by the Cabinet. I thank the Prime Minister for taking special interest in it, and his cabinet for taking an early decision, following which a National Mission for Empowerment of Women was launched by me on 8 March 2010, for implementation of women-centric programmes, in a mission mode and for better co-ordination and synergy amongst the participating stakeholders. Steps are also underway for restructuring the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, as a single window facilitator for NGOs' and Women Self Help Groups, and has been upscaled to Rs. 500 crores from Rs. 160 crores. These achievements not only validate the fruitfullness of the Conference of Governors, but testifies the positive difference that Governors can make by their depth of understanding and breadth of vision.

6. Today, we are meeting at a crucial period in our history. Despite global economic meltdown and domestic inflationary pressures, the fundamentals of our economy continue to remain strong. During my interactions with various Heads of State and Government, I found that our economic and technological prowess is universally recognized. India's growth story is not only a reflection of the new dynamism of a young India, but also a reaffirmation that the values of democracy, pluralism and the rule of law can sustain high economic growth.

7. While we are justifiably proud of these achievements, we cannot lose sight of the multiple challenges of terrorism, Left Wing Extremism and insurgency facing us. India's external and internal security is paramount and requires foremost attention. Both Central and State Governments have to work hand in hand to fortify our security architecture, and create an effective deterrence to achieve zero tolerance of terrorist activities. We look forward to hearing from the Governors of those states which share international borders, of how best to address the security concerns of these sensitive states, and so also threats faced with violent manifestations, especially in the rural hinterlands of some States, from Naxalism and Left Wing Extremism.

8. Regarding rainfed agriculture, while there has been commendable growth in the corporate and service sectors, the plight of farmers of India, which is predominantly an agriculture country, has not commensurately improved. Rural India should be seen as a growth engine and for India to prosper, our citizens living in rural India have to be economically and socially empowered. We must carefully craft policies to pull out our agricultural economy from the trap of low investment, low productivity and rural indebtedness. Suicide of farmers brings disgrace to our country. About 60 percent of our cultivated area is rain-fed, accounting for 44 percent of our agricultural production and supporting 40 percent of our population and also livestock.

9. I had organized a colloquium on "Approach to Sustainable Farming in Rain-fed Areas" in Rashtrapati Bhavan in August 2010, to evolve a viable strategy for increasing the production, productivity and profitability in the rain-fed areas. The concept paper prepared after the colloquium has been already circulated.

10. Extensive efforts have been made by the Ministry of Agriculture to augment productivity in the rainfed areas. Convergence of efforts from all directions is the call of the hour. I had asked the Department of Public Enterprises to involve the Central Public Sector into an Industry-Agriculture Partnership Mission. I understand that a concept paper is on the anvil. Easier access to credit, tax holidays, economic incentives and a more open marketing system through suitable amendments in the Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act can help. Given your pre-eminent positions, you can provide the right lead for initiating a Second Green Revolution in the dryland farming sector, and inspire Agricultural Universities to develop region-specific workable models. I would be eagerly looking forward to hearing new and innovative ideas, thoughts and experimentations which can provide a fresh perspective on making the agriculture-industry partnership a viable, mutually beneficial model. We must work on initiating institutional arrangements and policy orientation for a farmer-centric, industry driven, knowledge-based paradigm with enhanced competitiveness of the agri-sector being the overarching aim.

11. Another area where the Constitution casts a specific and special responsibility on the Governors is the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Your role acquires greater relevance since a large chunk of the Scheduled Areas is affected by Left Wing Extremism. There is a felt-need for a sensitive and sympathetic administration. You may also urge the State Governments to intensify the Government - tribal interface at the grass-roots level, to map out the most optimal path for their good. The functioning of the Tribes Advisory Council has to be invigorated. The Annual Reports submitted under the Fifth Schedule which are presently narrative and statistical, can be made more analytical.

12. Similarly, the Sixth Schedule devolves a special responsibility on the Governors for providing peace, good governance, promotion of the welfare and advancement of inhabitants. Special provisions in our Constitution to redress imbalances must work in the right earnest. Working of the Sixth Schedule needs a close look to erase flaws, contradictions and shortcomings, so that it effectively fulfils the expected role as a vehicle of self-governance.

13. It is often complained that the Autonomous District Councils created under the Sixth Schedule have been stunted in their functioning, due to tight regulatory control by the State Government and impediments in the flow of funds. The counter complaints are that wherever Autonomous District Councils become entrenched, they have deprived traditional village institutions from having a say in decision-making. Governors in the Sixth Schedule Areas have to play a pivotal role in safeguarding the interests of the varied sections of the population residing there, and in harmoniously intertwining the indigenous good governance practices and traditional institutional mechanisms with modern system of administration.

14. Public sentiment against corruption in public life is on the rise. There is also heightened expectations amongst our citizens from the Indian polity. Corruption stalls development, undermines social progress, undercuts confidence in the fairness of public administration, impedes good governance, erodes the rule of law, distorts competitive conditions, dampens investments and above all hurts the common man the most. It has to be rooted out. The remedy lies in a multi-pronged strategy combining preventive and punitive interventions, including simpler rules, transparent processes, judicious exercise of discretion, prompt delivery systems, better public awareness, public accountability and discharge of responsibilities with utmost rectitude.

15. I will also like to focus your attention on the inhuman conduct on the part of senior students, inflicting physical cruelty and mental torment on freshers, that have outraged society. The Apex court has taken a strong stand against ragging. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has endeavoured to build a credible architecture of deterrence. Many States have enacted laws, rules and regulations to prevent ragging. The regulatory structures have to be constantly monitored and all inadequacies removed. While it is the primary responsibility of the management of educational institutions and teachers to prevent ragging, parents and guardians have to be mobilized to counsel their wards to behave more responsibly. NGOs could be enlisted to foster a climate of awareness against ragging. Your persuasive influence, especially as Chancellors of State Universities can immensely help in wiping out this blot.

16. I have broadly touched upon the agenda items. I look forward to the ensuing discussions which, I am sure, will lead us to well-considered solutions. I have great pleasure in declaring the Conference open.

17. I would request the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Narasimhan to make his remarks. I have assigned more time to him so that he can highlight some of the salient points which emerged during the Informal Meeting of the Governors before he devotes himself to State-specific issues.