Addressing a select group of people at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Dr Singh said during the last few weeks, the Centre was concerned about rising inflation which has an international dimension to it. “In spite of the adverse scenario, we have made strenuous efforts to shield the poor and the vulnerable from their effect. Kerosene and LPG prices have been hardly touched in four years and even petrol and diesel prices have been low. We are bearing a huge cost on the exchequer to shield the poor. Food grain issue prices for BPL rice and wheat have not been touched while doubling the wheat and rice support prices. This year we hope to have a bumper crop and procurement has been excellent. This would result in decline in inflation”, he stated.

Despite worries on inflation, the UPA Government’s record on the economic front has been stellar, Dr Singh said.

“We have ensured macro economic stability on the one hand and ensured that a climate conducive to enterprise and creativity prevails in the country. Our falling tax-GDP ratio has now risen to almost 12 per cent ”, Dr Singh observed.

The UPA government has started the Backward Regions Grant Fund to ensure equitable regional development. A few districts of Karnataka are covered under this.

On the Sachar Committee, the UPA government has started many special programmes for the education and economic development of minorities, he said.