New Delhi, Feb 03: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said that national and food security were the twin targets sought to be strengthened through the interim budget that would make India a developed country by the year 2020. Commenting on the economic measures unveiled in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, the Prime Minister said the steps taken by the government to strengthen national security and the policies and programmes guaranteeing food for the poorer sections of the society would help fulfil the aspirations of the people.

He said the unemployed poor would get wheat at Rs two a kg and rice at Rs three a kg under the food for work programme. States would be asked to expedite work under this programme especially in the drought-affected regions.

The agricultural sector and farmers would achieve faster growth due to the concessions extended in the fiscal proposals. He said the government employees had got an increased income by the merger of 50 per cent DA into the basic. He, however, advised them not to spend the augmented income but save it for future needs.

Vajpayee said the interim budget showed that the government was committed to strengthen the economy and presented a picture of the changing future economic scenario.

Bureau Report