Centre-states coordination strengthened democracy: Ram Nath Kovind

"My government has also presented a unique example of collective power of the federal structure. This coordination between the Central and state governments has strengthened democracy and also strengthened the Constitution's prestige," he said in his address to the members of both the Houses of Parliament at the commencement of its Budget Session.

"No matter how big the challenge is, we will not stop; India will not stop. Whenever India has united, it has achieved goals considered impossible.

"In this fight against the coronavirus pandemic, we also lost many countrymen. A man dear to all of us and my predecessor President Pranab Mukherjee also passed away during this period. Six members of Parliament also left us untimely because of coronavirus. I pay my humble tributes to all.

"I am satisfied that due to timely decisions of my government, the lives of millions of countrymen were saved. Today, the number of new corona patients is decreasing rapidly and those cured of the infection is very high," the President said.

Kovind also talked about the Union government's actions on the economic front during the pandemic. He said that along with the announcement of a record economic package to handle the Indian economy, the government also took care that no poor starved.

"Through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 80 crore people were ensured 5 kg extra grain free of cost per month for eight months. The government also cared for the migrant workers."

The President said: "My government also launched the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan in six states to provide jobs to migrants who had returned to their native villages from cities during the epidemic. This helped create employment equivalent to 50 crore man days."

"Nearly Rs 31,000 crore were also directly transferred to the Jan Dhan accounts of poor women. During this period, more than 14 crore gas cylinders were given to poor women beneficiaries free of cost under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana across the country."

The President said that the joint sitting of Parliament being held during the time of the coronavirus pandemic has great significance, and mentioned that it is the "beginning of a new year and a new decade".

"We will also be entering the 75th year of India's independence this year," said the President, adding "all the Members of Parliament present here today embody the conviction held by every Indian that the toughest of challenges will deter neither us nor India".

He noted that the country faced every crisis with fortitude, be it the coronavirus pandemic, floods, earthquakes or major cyclones in several states, locust attack or the bird flu.

The recent past also saw an unprecedented escalation in tension along the border.

The nation stood together, battled crises on multiple fronts and surmounted every challenge.

During this period, we have all witnessed the unparalleled courage, endurance, discipline and spirit of service of our countrymen, the President said.

In this fight against the pandemic, Kovind said we have also suffered the untimely loss of life of a number of our countrymen.

Mentioning the farmers' agitation over the three contentious farm laws, the President said Parliament approved these important farm reforms seven months ago. He said that the three farm reforms, have started reaching out to more than 10 crore small-time farmers instantly.

Appreciating the advantages that these reforms would bring to the small farmers, the President said several political parties too had, from time to time, expressed their support.

"Discussions were done over these farm reforms in every part of the country for over two decades."

He added that his government holds in high esteem the values of democracy and sanctity of the Constitution and that it is continuously making efforts to dispel the misunderstanding created in the context of these laws.

Condemning Republic Day's tractor rally organised by the farmers that turned violent, leading to the death of a farmer and leaving many security personnel injured, the President said his government has always respected freedom of expression and holding of peaceful agitations in a democratic set up. (IANS)

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