Republic Day Speech: President Ram Nath Kovind

Dear Citizens, on this important day on the eve of 55th Republic Day of India, I am indeed happy to greet all the billion citizens of our country including those living abroad. I also greet the members of the armed forces and paramilitary forces who guard our frontiers on the land, the sea and the air and also internal security forces. I would like to share some of my thoughts for evolution of a beautiful India, combining economic prosperity and value system drawn from our civilizational heritage.

Indian economic scenario

Indian economy shows a very robust and consistent growth, indicated by the recent 8. 4% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2003-2004. Our foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $100 billion mark and are continuously rising. The rupee is steady and the middle class resurgence and the domestic buying power are on the rise. This has made our economy one of the fastest growing in the world. The time has come for these economic benefits to reach speedily the rural population through development programmes such as PURA – Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas and Interlinking of Rivers.Economists all around the world predict that by the year 2020, the world economic scenario will be completely different from what it is today, and that India will occupy the pride of position.

Indian industries in certain sectors have matured to be very responsive to the national and international needs and have shown steady growth inspite of earlier adverse predictions. Interest rates from the banks need to be more proactive to stimulate the growth of the right type of small, medium scale industry and agro food processing industries.The combination of entrepreneurship education in the schools and colleges, the hassle free flow of venture capital and evolution of good market will give additional momentum for national growth. Transforming India into a competitive beautiful nation Dear citizens, for the next five years, with certain progress behind us, the challenge we have, is to launch a major thrust for attaining national prosperity. We should convert the present opportunity and work towards giving our future generations, a competitive nation which has the following characteristics.

Profile of Competitive India

1. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy.
2. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
3. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution of energy and quality water.
4. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony, absorbing technology thereby resulting in sustained wealth generation leading to higher employment potential.
5. A Nation where education is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
6. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars and scientists all over the world.
7. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all the billion population and the diseases like AIDS/TB, water borne diseases, Cardiac diseases and Cancer are extinct.
8. A Nation where the governance uses the best of the technologies to be responsive, transparent, easily accessible and simple in rules, thereby corruption free.
9.  A Nation where poverty has been totally alleviated, illiteracy and crime against women are eradicated and the society is unalienated.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in, on the earth and brings smiles on a billion faces.

These are the ten dimensional transformations needed for a competitive India and we have to work for. Peace in the offing For continuing our mission of national development and economic growth in our sub-continent, peace is a paramount ingredient. Most nations have realized that low intensity proxy wars, deterrence based buildups and real wars are too expensive detractors from the perceived visions of development.

The development of the society also weans away its people from destructive activities of alienation, leading to celebration of peace-makers. When guns are silent, Flowers blossom on the earth; Fragrance engulfs good souls, Who created beautiful silence. India will always be grateful to the successful peacemakers. Towards Unity of minds Dear citizens, when I assumed office on 25th July 2002, I addressed the need for unity of minds becoming one of the focused missions for our nation. Recently fifteen Gurus, Acharyas, Swamijis, Maulavis, Reverent Fathers, Spiritual leaders, devotees and the representatives of many religions met at Surat in the presence of His Holiness Acharya Mahaprajna and deliberated for two days and took vital decisions leading to the religions graduating as spiritual force.Also, they have declared that the nation is bigger than any leader or individual or an organization. They had collectively evolved five inter-religious projects for implementation.

Nation’s best wishes to our spiritual leaders and their mission of transforming religions into a spiritual force. Challenges before Us Also certain challenges before the nation are to be addressed collectively in the immediate future to facilitate faster pace of national development.