New Delhi: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
today said existing institutions like the judiciary are facing
a lot of burden and stressed on the need for strengthening
these and improving their delivery mechanism.
"There is a tremendous burden on existing institutions...
Pendency of cases in courts are there. The first challenge
before the country is to improve the delivery mechanism,"
Mukherjee said, addressing the convention of the AICC`s Legal
and Human Rights Department.
He said the "delivery mechanism was poor" and called for
strengthening of the institutions so that they can function
within their desired framework.
Delivering the valedictory address, Mukherjee said there
should be an informed debate in a democracy. In an oblique
reference to the attempt of some members of the Rajya Sabha to
obstruct the passage of the Women`s Reservation Bill, he said
obscurantism should not be used as a method of protest.
He said the parliamentary system was meant for informed
discussion as here the ruling party can be exposed and even be
deposed.
"10-20 people come to the floor and prevent others from
speaking," Mukherjee said apparently referring to the
behaviour of some SP, RJD and LJP members, adding that the
opposition should not be just for the sake of opposing.
Noting that violation of parliamentary norms weakens
the system, Mukherjee said, "this is the biggest violation of
fundamental rights".
Referring to the 8.6 per cent GDP growth, the Finance
Minister said India took the minimum time to recover from the
global financial crisis.
Noting that it was "not easy" to bring socio-economic
transformation of 120 crore people, Mukherjee said the beauty
of Indian democracy is transformation through peaceful
process.
He mentioned various Bills passed by the UPA government
in the last five years like Right to Education, RTI etc.
Mukherjee said the challenge was to make India a developed
nation and added that 10-12 percent growth in GDP was
essential.
On the dispute about the number of people in the Below
Poverty Line category, the Finance Minister said though
various reports have given different statistics, the figure of
27 per cent population under the BPL category of the Planning
Commission is the criteria.
Referring to the Tendulkar report, he said it studies
the consumption pattern of urban population and juxtapose it
with that of rural population.
"The consumption pattern of urban India is different from
rural India," he said.
The minister also called for increasing food production
to make the country more developed.
PTI
