New Delhi, May 07: Government alone cannot solve the manifold problems faced by the country, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said here today. "Neither the Government nor the society alone can solve the varied and diverse problems faced by a huge country like ours. Both will have to do it together," Advani said at a function to mark the birth anniversary of devotional poet Bhakta Surdas, organised by the Nalgonda-based Development and Welfare Association of the Blind. He said it was keeping in this mind that the Government decided to grant dual citizenship to NRIs from eight countries including US and UK. "It has been done so that Indians and people of Indian origin can together contribute to India's progress," Advani said. Recalling his initial days in Rajasthan following the country's partition, Advani said wealthy citizens considered it their duty to build local roads and educational institutions but after few years that attitude changed and people would send representations to replace even a street lamp.

The deputy prime minister said disabled people should get their place in the society. He also honoured several philanthropists, including Union minister Vidyasagar Rao, on the occasion.

Union ministers Satyanarayan Jatiya and Bandaru Dattatreya, Congress spokesman Jaipal Reddy and TDP leader Yerran Naidu were also present.

Bureau Report