PM stresses on food security, education

"We want that no citizen of our country must sleep hungry. We are determined about the formulation of the national food security act," Manmohan Singh said at the 83rd plenary session of the Congress party here.

The Prime Minister added that with a good monsoon, India has had a good production of wheat and rice this year, and the focus would now be on food distribution so that the problem of hunger can be dealt with.

"We are also determined to improve the public distribution system so that the lower strata of the society may benefit from the food security act. The centre and states will have to work together for this," he added.

Manmohan Singh also called for cooperation between the states and the central government for implementing the RTE Act, which provides for free and compulsory education to children aged 6-14.

"Working together with the states, the Centre will make full efforts to implement the Right to Education Act," he said.

"Today practically every child in our country has access to elementary education...now we want to give special attention to secondary education," he said.

The Right to Education Act, which was enforced from April 1, will be implemented from the academic session beginning March 2011. The Act makes it the responsibility of the state's to ensure that every child in the 6-14 age bracket is provided free and compulsory education.

Manmohan Singh added that bills for creation of a national council for education and innovation universities will soon be brought in parliament."In higher education, we propose to bring bills before parliament for creation of the national council for higher education and establish innovation universities," he said.

The prime minister said the government was giving finishing touches to the Rajiv Awaas Yojana for giving property rights to people living in slums and fulfilling its promise to make the country slum-free.

He also said that communicable diseases would be added to the agenda of major health programmes like the National Rural Health Mission.

"In the field of health, through programmes like the rural health mission we will make all efforts to provide basic health facilities to every citizen. Now special attention will be paid on communicable diseases under this mission," he said.

Calling upon party workers to help implement government schemes, Manmohan Singh said it would be his government's endeavour to remove shortcomings and improve its performance