Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said poverty, food price and inflation were still a major concern in the economic development of India and that it was the decisive challenge of our time to end the curse of poverty.
Addressing the nation on the eve of India's 68th Independence Day, Pranab Mukherjee said the ratio of poverty has come down from 60 percent to 30 percent in the last 60 years but nearly one-third of the populatin still lives below the poverty line.
"Poverty is not a mere statistic. Poverty has a face, which becomes unbearable when it scars the visage of a child. The poor cannot, and will not, wait for yet another generation to see the very essentials of life - food, shelter, education and employment - being denied to them. The benefits from economic development must percolate down to the poorest of the poor," he said.
He said it was the decisive challenge of our times to end the curse of poverty in our country.
He also expressed concerned that though inflation has started moderating in the last few months, food prices were still a problem.
Referring to the current economic situation, he said though the growth rate was subdued at below 5 percent during the last two years, there was a "sense renewed vigour and optimism in the air”.
"Signs of revival are visible. Our external sector has strengthened. Fiscal consolidation measures are beginning to show results. Notwithstanding occasional spurts, inflation has started moderating," he said.
The President also said manufacturing sector was on the rebound and the stage was now set fro the economy to move on a high-growth trajectory of 7-8 percent which was essential to ensure the availability of adequate resources for equitable development.
On employment in the country, Mukherjee said the country has been growing at 4 percent annually over the last decade.
With PTI Inputs
