Naidu cautions against short term waivers and freebies

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on February 12, 2020, called for finding long-term policy solutions to eradicate poverty rather than offering short term waivers or freebies. He wanted government and policymakers to ensure that the benefits of all programmes reach the most deserving sections of society.“ People in public life must aim at eradication of poverty and make efforts to bring in unity among people,” he said.

Addressing a gathering after releasing the book “The Vision of Antyodaya” compiled by the Indian Social Responsibility Network (ISRN)at Upa-Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Naidu called for plugging loopholes in the anti-defection law to prevent elected representatives from defecting to another party without resigning. He urged all political parties to discipline their members and ensure that such tendencies were curbed.

The Vice President said people have a choice to change parties if they have a difference of opinion on ideology, but not for individual benefits. “People in public life must treat their profession as a mission to serve and not for commission and they should not give remission to their responsibilities,” he added, according to a PIB release.

Pointing out that people’s decision was supreme in a democratic polity, the Vice President said that it was unfortunate that few have developed intolerance towards the mandate of the people. He expressed concern over frequent obstruction and violation of procedures in parliament and state legislatures and stressed the urgent need to restore “Discussion, Debates & Decide.”

Stating that sustainable and inclusive growth was the need of the hour, the Vice President asked people in public life to focus more on inclusive growth in line with the Antyodaya philosophy of Pandit DeendayalUpadhayaya. Naidu called for special emphasis on improving the lives of people living in rural areas to bridge the urban-rural divide. He wanted them to implement “Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Vishwas” in letter and spirit at all levels.

Describing Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya as a profound philosopher, organiser par excellence and a leader who had maintained the highest standards of personal integrity, the Vice President said that his life and teachings have been the source of guidance and moral inspiration for the nation. He called upon all educational institutions to teach the life and contributions of national leaders such as Pandit Deendayal along with India’s civilisational values and ethos.

Talking about Shri Upadhyaya’s keen interest in improving a lot of the poor and downtrodden sections of the society, Naidu said that he criticized the social evils like untouchability and made a clarion call to end such evils that threaten the national unity. Naidu said that Upadhyaya’s consistent pursuit for the solutions for the country’s social, economic and political woes led him to propound the principle of “integral humanism”.

Pointing out that Pandit Deendayal observed that both capitalist and communist recognise only an ‘economic man’, and ignore other aspects of man’s persona, the Vice President said, “ Hence, Pandit Deendayal rejected both of these ideologies and called for developing an indigenous economic model with the human being at center stage.”