III
Five Years of Stability and Progress: 1984-89

The next question to be asked is : what were the achievements of the previous congress Governments, particularly the government that held office in 1984-89?What , in effect the National Front Government inherit?

Unity

• In the wake of the tragic assassination of Smt,Indira Gandhi ,the first task was to maintain peace and strengthen national unity. This was done.
• Under the leadership of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress provided a stable Government from 1984-89. It significant advances in poverty alleviation, economic development and social justice, led a renaissance of India's rich cultural heritage , strengthened our defenses , laid down clear strategies for long-term development and enhanced India's international prestiage.The country had a sound and well managed economy.

Immediate political tasks addressed

The congress Government lost no time in tackling urgent political issues .They were taken up in right earnest .The results included the Rajiv -Longowal accord on Punjab,the Assam Accord ,the Mizoram accord ,the tripura settlement and the Darjeeling settlement.

New Policy Frame work

New policies were formulated in several vital areas of national endeavour,viz.

• 1. New Education policy;
• 2. New Housing policy;
• 3. New Health policy;
• 4. new Irrigation policy
• 5. New Agricultural policy
• 6. New Panchayati policy
• 7. New Municipal Administration policy
• 8. New Environment policy
• 9. Science policy
• 10. Policy for Energy and power ;and
• 11. Long-term fiscal policy.

After the Congress government demitted office in 1989,the national front Government did practically nothing. These were neither implemented nor substituted by alternative policies. They remained gathering dust.

Power to the People

The congress initiated the historic step of according Constitutional status to Panchyati Raj institutions in the rural areas and Nagarpalikas in the Urban centers of the country.This was conscious endeavor to strengthen democracy at the grass-roots level.The measure envisaged the devolution of power directly on the panchyats and nagarpalika ,along with resources and the authority to utilize them for the the people.The bills also assured the regular elections evry 5 yearss to be the panchyati bodies and the nagarpalikas,provided for creating reserved constituencies for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the proportion to their population ,and 30% seats for women.

This revolutionary measure was thwarted by the members of the combined oppostion of the Rajya Sabha,numbering a mere 83,after it was passed by the Lok Sabha .thus,the national front and of allies betrayed the people of Indian in what Congress government intended as the most important milestone in the Country's pilgrimage to true democracy :which is power to the people.

Plans and Schemes

New plans and schemes were drawn up and taken up for implementation. They included:

• 1. National perspective plans for the women;
• 2. Indira Mahila Yojana;
• 3. Nehru rozgar Yojana
• 4. Nehru Rozgar Yojana ;
• 5. Action plan for cleaning the Ganga;
• 6. Plan for Afforestation;
• 7. Plans for Wasteland Development;
• 8. Establishment of the Island Development Authority
• 9. Plan for Sports Development ;and
• 10. Establishment of Zonal Cultural Centres

These plans and schemes were lackadaisically continued ,disorted or even shelved or even by the National Front Government ,usually without any attempt at substitution.

Prices

The national front made a promise in 1989 that prices would be brought down within one month.Like so many other promises,this also turned out to be false. Today ,prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed. This has been caused and fulled by the wrong policies of the National Front Government including an inflationary ans anti-people budget ,excessive increase of rail freights, very steep hike in administered prices and total mismanagement of the economy.

Through the eighties, while much of the world economy experienced economic stagnation and raging inflation,India experienced its highest rates of growth ever and only moderate increase in price level.When prices of particular commodities rose,the highest priority was immediate given to taking the steps required to curtail or roll back the rise in prices, using both fiscal policies as well as the public distribution system as effective tools for this purpose. That is why even in the drought year of 1987,prices were not allowed to go out of control.It is neglect and mismanagement of the worst kind that are responsible for the present situation of no growth and raging inflation.The Congress reiterates its firm resolve to arrest the rise in prices and bring down the prices of the essential commodities and articles of common consumption.Economic policy will be geared to this end.Stern action will be taken against black marketing ,hoarding and profiteering and against who are profiting from the misery of the common moan.

Poverty Allevation

Poverty alleviation was the central priority of the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi Goverments.More investments were made in poverty alleviation schemes than ever before.Several new schemes were implemented .the proportion of our population below the poverty line was thus halved from over 51% at the Indraj' retuned to the office in january 1980 to an all time low of 25% by the time Shri Rajiv Gandhi demitted office in Nov 1989.

Tackling unemployment

Massive employment generation schemes were implemented culminating in the largest ever national employment generation programmes,the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana for rural India and the Nehru Rozgar Yojana for urban India.On an average 7 million new jobs are created during each year during the seventh five year plan. Growth in the economy at an average of nearly 6 % per annum boosted additional employment to the point where it is catching up, for the fiorst timein our experience Of planned development ,with the net addition to the work force.Wasteland development and afforestation projects were also used as instruments of employment generation. In this area also used as instruments of employment generation. In this area also,there was no further progress doing the National front regime.

Special Technology Missions

Special Technology Missions were set up with a view to solving ,by application of more efficacious technologies several intractable problems impinging on the lives of poor.They included Missions for drinking water,universal immunization of children ,eradication of illiteracy ,flood control,edible oil milk production ,telecommunications and the like. In these areas also,there was no further progress during the National Front regime.

All-round growth

For the first time ever ,the ceononmy grew at over 5 % per annum.For the first time ever,growth was not halted by even so severe a drought as the drought of 1987.There was progress on every front :agriculture,industry,poverty removal,employmaent generation ,infrastructure .During 1984-89,power production increased ,raw materials were made more easily available and the movement of goods and services was facilitated.Infrastructure was substancially enhanced .There was unprecedented growth in exports ,which double in five years.

Increasing Agricultural Production

Foodgrains production reached an all time high of 175 million tonnes.The Green Revolution was extended to east UP,Bihar,West Bengal and Orissa.New beginnings were made in rained crops ,particularly the hitherto neglected sector of pulses amnd oilseeds.Agricutural production was increased at an unprecedented rate of 5 %per annum.This was achieved by putting in lace a sound policy framework and ensuring the effective and coordinated delivery of agricultural inputs and services on a timely basis.

Industrial Growth

India's industrial growth achieved a record increase ,touching a 12% per annum at it's height.This was the result of major policy initiatives taken during the Seventh Year Plan Aimed at increaseing the productivity ,reducing costs and improving quality.The accent Was on opening the domestic market to increased competition and readying our industry To stand on it's own in the face of international competition.The public sector was freed of a number of bureaucratic constraints and given a larger measure of autonomy than ever before.the technological and managerial modernization of industry was pursued as the key instrument for increasing the productivity and improving our competitiveness in the world.It was a period of visualizing new horizons.

Defence preparedness

Effective steps were taken to further strengthen our defense preparedness. The morale of Jawans and officers was maintained at increasing productivity,reducing costs and improving the quality. The Prithvi and agni missiles heralded India's entry into yet another sophisticated field in defence production.

Cultural Development

The Congress Government implemented a variety of schemes for culktural development ,.involving the people as a whole.A special effort was made to spot,encourage anmd develop talent in rural areas. The richness of our culture was to the people through performances in all parts of the country to foster better understanding ,appreciation and pride in our composite culture.

Impressive achievements in Foreign affairs

During the five years 1984-89 ,India played a key role in world affars .Following in the Footsteps of Smt Indira Gandhi ,Shri Rajiv Gandhi chaired the Nonaligned Movement and enhanced its relevance and effectiveness .He sponsored a global initiative for establishing the AFRICA fund ,to express in concrete terms the Non Aligned Movements Solidarity with the people of South Africa ,oppressed by racial discrimination ,continuing colonialism and military invasion .He also played a key role in the world movement for peace and disarmament leading to general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a new World order to ensure a sustained peace and sustainable development in a world beyond nuclear weapons.He presented to the United States to the United Nations an action plan for Total Disarmament to make the world nuclear free. Most important ,he sighed ,along with Soviet President Gorbhachev,the historic,the historic Delhi Declaration affirming the common commitment of both the countries to Non\violence and a nuclear free world order.Shri Rajiv Gandhi also launched a global plan for protecting the planet from environmental degradation by projecting world order. These were important landmarks in the pursuit of our successful foreign policy. The Congress Government further strengthened and improved our relations with Pakistan,China and USA.,and expanded our friendship mand cooperation with USSR ,Germany Japan,South East Asian countries and members of the non aligned movement.

Achievements in the face of calcumny and disinformation

These achievements were the achievements of Shri Rajiv Gandhi ,the Congress Party and the people of India. They were accomplished in spite of the non co-operation of the opposition and in spite of a systematic campaign of calcumny and disinformation against our leader and our party.