प्रदेश चुनाव घोषणापत्र केलिए मुद्दे

१. कृषि उत्पादन व उत्पादकता की व्यापक बढ़ोतरी- कुल योजना परिव्यय का  खर्च १५% तक ले जाना;


२. जैविक खेती विस्तार- वर्मी कम्पोस्ट इकाइयों की स्थापना, किसानों का पंजीकरण, कृषक मित्र पारितोषण;

३. अनाज भंडारण व्यवस्था की सुदृढ़ता;

४. सिंचाई व्यवस्था की सुदृढ़ता एवं विस्तार;

५. मंडी व्यवस्था को सुदृढ़ करना;

६. अनुसन्धान व शोध कार्यों को किसानों की समस्याओं के समाधान हेतू निर्देशित करना;

७. बागवानों को मिशन के अन्तर्गत दी जा रही सहायता को और सुदृढ़ करना;

८. फल व सब्जी आधारित खाद्य प्रसंस्करण उद्योगों की स्थापना/ प्रोत्साहन;

९. जड़ीबूटी आधारित उद्योगों की स्थापना/प्रोत्साहन;

१०. खुम्ब उत्पादन को प्रोत्साहन;

११. सभी गावों को शुद्ध जल प्रदान करना;

१२. बिजली उत्पादन में वृद्धि;

१३. सौर ऊर्जा क्षमता का दोहन;

१४. ग्रामीण स्वास्थ केन्द्रों में अनिवार्य मूल संरचना व यन्त्र तथा डाक्टर/तकनीकी कर्मचारी प्रदान करना;



१५. सरकारी स्कूलों में आवश्यकतानुसार मूल संरचना व शिक्षक सुनिश्चित करना;

१६. वानिकी कार्यक्रमों को स्थानीय लोगों की आवश्यकता से जोड़ना;

१७. जंगलों में लग रही आग से निजात पाने हेतू स्थाई समाधान करना;

१८. जंगली जानवरों से हो रहे नुक्सान का स्थाई समाधान करना;

१९. लोक सेवा कानून को पूरी निष्ठा से लागू करना;

२०. लोक मित्र केन्द्रों का विस्तार व सुदृढ़ता एवं विस्तार;

२१. सड़कों का विस्तार व अच्छा रख-रखाव;

२२. रेल सेवा व हवाई सेवा के विस्तार तथा सुदृढ़ता केलिए केन्द्र सरकार पर दबाव बढ़ाना;

२३. विकास तथा समाज कल्याण कार्यक्रमों को गरीबी व बेरोजगारी उन्मूलन से जोड़ना;

२४. प्रशासनिक व आर्थिक सुधार कार्यक्रमों को लागू करना;

२५. मूल्यांकन व नियामक व्यवस्था सुदृढ़ बनाकर कार्यकुशलता बढ़ाना;

२६. शासन की जनता के प्रति उतरदायित्वता सुनिशिचित करना;

२७. गैर-उत्पादन खर्चे कम करना;

Concept for proposed TV Serial

"RAKSHAK"


(A TV Serial to promote the cause of Environment & Eco-system)

BRIEF CONCEPTUAL NOTE



Introductory: Environment and eco-systems are much talked about topics by all sections of society which include not only the scientific and technical people but also the common man. There are different versions and perceptions of these issues, varying from one section to the other. There have been numerous attempts to project these versions but the presentations mostly remained lop sided. Such efforts have not been able to create the desirable impact on the mind of common man about the Eco-Environmental issues which by their very nature being abstract & dry, do not generate the requisite interest unless presented in a dramatic manner. The end result is that the degeneration of environment and eco-system continues unabated which, ultimately, is bound to prove catastrophic for the entire humanity. Projection of the problems relating to this theme in a dramatic manner can be best done through a TV serial by weaving the intricate eco-environmental issues into interesting stories and presenting to the viewers in various episodes of the serial.



The Core Issue: The eco-system comprise the air, the water, the vegetation, the soil, the animals and the man. At the central point of this system stands the Man who not only forms a vital link in the Nature's Food Chain, but is also the major exploiter of nature's wealth. The excessive exploitation of natural resources by man has brought him to a stage where his very existence is in perils. Draughts, floods, cloud bursts, cyclones and typhoons have become quite regular phenomena these days. Instances of wild animals killing men are very commonly occurring. All these are clear cut indicators of terrible imbalance in the eco-system which, originally was properly balanced to ensure mutual co-existence of all the components of the eco-system. Destruction of forests by the greedy & the unscrupulous elements in connivance with the corrupt officials has damaged the three components, namely, the vegetation, the soil and the water. Indiscriminate hunting has badly disturbed the Nature' Food Chain-wherein the carnivores are getting deprived of their food comprising the herbivores- resulting in frequent attacks on the man.



The Story & the Plot: A family living in hilly village would be at the focal point. The head of the family is an environmentally enlightened person while in the same village reside the greedy & unscrupulous persons who are destroying the eco-system through timber smuggling and indiscriminate hunting. The family suffers tragedies due to cloud burst and wild animal, but these further invigorate the entire family to continue their efforts to promote the cause of eco-environmental protection. There is an enlightened old teacher in the village school who, during the course of teaching, tells the children interesting legendry stories of the earlier times when there was an ideal eco-system all around and also about the ideal administrative set-up which ensured the sustenance of such a system. The small child from the central family of the village, studying in the school, gets significantly influenced by the enlightened teacher. Coupled with the influence of his father, this child vows to pursue his career in the field of Environment & Forests protection. After completing his school and college studies, this boy is able to get into the Indian Forest Service to carry forward the agenda of eco-environmental protection to its logical conclusion and comes quite close to restoring the pristine glory of an ideal eco-system wherein man, animal, vegetation, soil, water and air would ensure mutual co-existence.



The Dramatising Elements: Numerous real life stories (well documented in various memoirs) about: the wrath of timber smugglers, the unscrupulous hunters; the wrath of nature's fury witnessed in many places due to flash floods, cloud bursts, draughts, cyclones, typhoons and such other forms; the fights against the corrupt system; the miracles of nature; the experiences of trekking expeditions; the interesting events experienced during the training in the Administrative Academy and the Forest Academy.



The Episodes: 1st Episode: Theme presentation, mainly through a commentary and projection of clippings to explain the core issues of eco-environmental system; 2nd Episode: Projection of the ideal scenario as it existed during the earlier times through the Story-Telling mode by the 'enlightened teacher'; 3rd Episode: Family tragedy due to cloud burst; 4th Episode: Family tragedy due to wild animal; 5th Episode: Legendry stories about the folklores projecting the culture focused on environmental issues; 6th & 7th Episodes: Interesting experiences of trekking expedition by the boy from the central family; 8th to 15th Episodes: Projection of the interesting events from the experiences of the boy from central family during his training at the Administrative Academy and the Forest Academy after his selection in the Indian Forest Service; 16th & 17th Episodes: Projection of the initial shocks experienced by the young officer due to the prevailing maladies in the administrative system; 18th to 21st Episodes: Projection of the fight against the Timber Smuggler; 22nd to 25th Episodes: Projection of the fight against the Unscrupulous Hunters to resolve the Man-Animal Conflict; 26th Episode: The concluding one to project the move to achieve the ultimate goal of a harmonious eco-system, through commentary and the selected clippings.

कुशल कुमार गुप्ता (के.के.गुप्ता) की जीवन सारिणी

(क) व्यक्तिगत: जुलाई १९४८ में जिला मंडी हिमाचल प्रदेश के एक छोटे से गाँव में किसान परिवार में जन्म हुआ |
(ख) शैक्षणिक योग्यता: गवर्नमेंट हाई स्कूल भंगारोटू जिला मंडी से दसवीं तथा गवर्नमेंट कालेज चंडीगढ़ से विज्ञान (भौतिक, रासायन तथा गणित) में सनातक और पंजाब विश्वविद्यालय चंडीगढ़ से लोक प्रशासन में सनातकोतर |
(ग) व्यावसायिक पृष्ठभूमि : सन १९७१ में भारतीय वन सेवा में प्रवेश कर हिमाचल प्रदेश में वन मंडल अधिकारी, अरण्यपाल तथा प्रधान मुख्य अरण्यपाल पदों पर कार्यरत रहे | वन विभाग से बाहर प्रतिनियुक्ति पर बागवानी उपज विपणन, राज्य औद्योगिक विकास, सामान्य औद्योगिक तथा राज्य इलेक्ट्रॉनिक विकास निगमों के प्रबन्ध निदेशक और राज्य सरकार के कृषि एवं बागवानी सचिव पदों परा कार्यरत रहे | केन्द्र सरकार में प्रतिनियुक्ति पर संयुक्त सचिव खाद्य प्रसंसकरण व विनेवेश मंत्रालयों में और सचिव राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जनजातीय आयोग पदों परा कार्यरत रहे | जुलाई २००७ में स्वेच्छा से समय पूर्व सेवानिवृत्ति लेकर भारतीय जनता पार्टी (हि.प्र.) में प्रवेश किया | अक्तुबर २००८ में पार्टी के हिमाचल प्रदेश बुद्धिजीवी प्रकोष्ठ का राज्य संयोजक नियुक्त किया गया |
(घ) अंतरराष्ट्रीय अनुभव: प्रशिक्षण, विचार गोष्ठियों, कार्यशालाओं तथा द्वीराष्ट्रीय व बहुराष्ट्रीय बैठकों के माध्यमों द्वारा इंग्लैंड, अमेरिका, जर्मनी, हौलेंड, फ्रांस, फिलीपीन्स, मलेशिया और बांगलादेश इत्यादि देशों में जाकर ज्ञान व अनुभव प्राप्ति की |
(ङ) विशेष कार्य: लाहौल स्पीती में पौधरोपण-समूह, माइक्रोवाटरशेड विकास माडल, एच.पी.एम.सी. की कार्य प्रणाली में महत्वपूर्ण सुधार, वन्य प्राणी राष्ट्रीय उद्यानों व अभयारण्यों की सीमाओं का युक्तिकरण करके आबादी वाले क्षेत्रों को बाहर करा प्रदेश के लाखों लोगों को राहत दिलाने केलिए महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाया | प्रथम राष्ट्रीय प्रसंसकरण नीति का प्रारूप तैयार किया | विनिवेश कार्यक्रम के अन्तरगत केंद्रीय सरकार के उपक्रम माडर्न फ़ूड नामक कंपनी को निजी कंपनी के नियंत्रण में देकर बेचना अपने किस्म का पहला विनिवेश किया | तदोपरान्त सी.एम.सी., पैरादीप फास्फेट, आई.टी.डी.सी. के १९ होटल और आई.एच.सी. के ३ होटलों को विक्रय करके केन्द्र सरकार को करोड़ों रुपये के हो रहे घाटे से मुक्त किया | राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जनजाति आयोग में सचिव पद पर रह कर कार्य व्यवस्था स्थापित कर जनजातीय समुदाय के हित में आयोग को प्रभावी ढंग से चलाया |
(च) लेख: ऑर्गेनाइजर वीकली में अब तक जो लेख छप चुके हैं- ‘Ideal Agenda of Governance’; UPA’s Track Record’; ‘BJP’s Ideology’; ‘Secularism’; ‘RSS’.

शपथ- जो मैंने राजनीति में कदम रखने पर ले रखी है


१. निष्पक्षता, न्यायप्रियता, बचनबद्धता एवं पारदर्शिता मूल सिधान्त हैं

२. भाई/भतीजावाद व पक्षपात से दूरी बनाए रखना

३. विकास केलिए राजनीति से उपर रहना

४. व्यक्तिगत चरित्रहनन व प्रतिशोध से दूरी

५. जाति/लिंग/संप्रदाय/पंथ के आधार पर कोई भेदभाव नहीं



राजनीतिक पार्टी का आदर्श आधार

१. स्पष्ट सिधान्त एवं राष्ट्रवाद/राष्ट्रीयता आधारित विचारधारा

२. लोकतंत्र में अटूट विश्वास

३. अनुशासन पर कोई समझौता नहीं

४. गतिशीलता एवं सुधारीकरण की ओर झुकाव

५. योग्यता व कार्यों के आधार पर पहचान करना

कार्य की रूपरेखा एवं लक्ष्य

१. सुधार (प्रशासनिक, आर्थिक, सामाजिक, राजनैतिक) लाना

२. विकास कार्यों को गरीबी उन्मूलन, रोजगार व उत्पादकता से जोड़ना

३. कृषि-बागवानी, जड़ी-बूटी, ऊर्जा एवं संरचना विकास को प्राथमिकता

४. शिक्षा एवं स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं का तीव्रता से विस्तार

५. सु-राज स्थापना व वित्तीय-संसाधन सुदृढ़ता हेतू अग्रसर

Air India Privatisation

From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: 'Should Air India Be Privatised'
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:26:56 +0000


This refers to the views expressed in the column 'Face Off'. Both the writer have missed some very vital points on the issue. Since I was the Joint Secretary Ministry of Disinvestment during 2000-2002 when Air India privatisation was almost done (as out of 80 broad steps we had covered 79 and the final financial-cum-technical bid was to come), I have first hand knowledge on the issue. Tata-Singapur Airlines Consortium were the sole bidder. The main reason for the deal getting aborted at the doorstep was the split in the Consortium due to reasons not in any way related to valuation or even the issues highlighted by the two writers. In fact the excellent skills of AI's cockpit crew as well as the technical staff had almost offset the higher Manpower-Aircraft ratio of Air India (700 vis-a-vis 300 in American/ European Airliners at that time). Further, the training and maintenance infrastructure available jointly with Indian Airlines in the country, forms an attractive carrot for any strategic partner. However, it is difficult to counter the point made by Rajiv Pratap Rudy that the beneficiaries of the largesse of State owned Air India will keep on opposing moves to privatise the entity. But let their be no doubt in anybody's mind that the best option available now is to immediately privatise Air India to restore its prestine glory and save the scarce financial resources of the country for better purposes.

K.K.Gupta, Retired IFS(HP:71)
C-90, Sector 3, New Shimla-171009

Letters to Editor on various issues

From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: 'Think You'-ET dated 5 September, 2010
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2010 03:41:15 +0000

This refers to your front page write-up titled 'Think You' (ET 5 September 2010). Indeed the most timely & commendable task to focus attention on an issue of most urgent nature for India which has remained neglected for so long. Consequent to this neglect, the bureaucratic dominance in steering the governance system in our country has hindered the much needed process of 'Reforms', administrative as well as socio-economic. Support of India Inc. in this regard is very vital because government-funding invariably brings in the element of bureacratic control with it, which in turn consignes the research-findings of the 'Think Tank' to the files duly secured under a tight 'Red Tape' just to gather dust rather than see light of the day. Even if they want, the bureaucrats can not exhibit the kind of courage required to unshackle the Indian system from the procedure-oriented legacy of British-Raj. It is only the string-free funding from private sources (corporate and/or trust) which only can ensure autonomy, so vital to ensure boldness. Also, it is necessary to have an appropriate networking mechanism to ensure proper coordination amongst the Think-Tank institutions to avoide wasteful duplication of research work and provide desireable thrust to the research-findings. The reforms process which commenced in ninetees has already slowed down and only the activation of 'Think-tank' institutions can ensure that such a slip-shod does not occur in future and sustenance is ensured in any policy/programme of reforming the system progressively.

KK Gupta
New Shimla
From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: 'Calling political parties'-ET 8 Nov.'10
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 03:23:22 +0000

This refers to your edit 'Calling political parties' (ET, Nov 8). Undoubtedly, blame for low ranking of India in the HD Index of UN rests squarely at the doorstep of political parties. Programme & policies announced in the documents/manifestoes of all parties notwithstanding, the actions completely lack sensitivity to ensuring improvement in the delivery
system. Interest of politicians, in so far as the educational & health sectors are concerned, remains limited to transfers and postings of the personnels. Mere allocation of higher outlays in these sectors has little meaning unless the delivery mechanism is improved through good governance and reforms. There is an urgent need for some non governmental organisation to carry out a comprehensive survey in every State to know the ground truth in all nooks and corners of the country so that;1. programme & policy-related aberrations could be rectified to take care of the asea-wise disparities; 2. no State is able to claim laurels merely on a macro picture.

K.K.Gupta
New Shimla
From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: 'It Pours'- editorial dated 21 April, 2011
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:51:10 +0000

This refers to your editorial (It Pours) dated 21 April. The three vital reforms suggested need be considered seriously by both the central as well as the state governments. Whereas export-import control and the subsidy/grant issues concern the central government, the elimination or reduction/control of intermediaries between the farmers and the consumers falls in the domain of the states. Not only do the intermediaries manipulate prices to the utter diadvantage of both farmers as well as the consumers but they also resort to cartelisation to prevent flow of benefits to either side (farmers or the consumers) through any positive interventions which the government might make. As very aptly mentioned the APMCs need to be scrapped because these favour the intermediaries rather than the farmers or the consumers. Another measure/reform which need priority attention is the greater boost to the processing industry in order to prevent seasonal wastages and make up for the out of season-scarceties. This will facilitate accrual of remunerative price to the producer and availability of food produce/product at reasonable price all the year around to the consumer.

Kushal Kumar
New Shimla
Ph. (0177) 2671960
From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: "Sense on Lokpal"-Editorial dated 22 Aug 2011
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:35:12 +0000
This refers to the edit 'Sense on Lokpal' (ET Aug 22). Your editorial and write-ups can provide excellent guidence to the terribly confused UPA government in resolving the undesireable deadlock. By way of summing up positive points of both sides in order to form a balanced view, the following points are submitted:- Anna is right in 1.Giving a clarion call against rampant curruption in the country; 2.Rallying masses for fighting against this menace; 3.Creating a strong opinion for creating effective mechanism to ensure accountability; 4.Making people aware of the advantages of peaceful agitation in accordence with Gandhian way to raise vital issues. The flip side is:- 1.Solution of any menace has to be found in accordence with the Constitutional Law of India; 2.Since our country has numerous diversities, the suggestion of 'Referendrum' entails opening a pandora's box which is bound to endanger integrity of the country; 3.Lokpal can tackle only a part of the problem and that too at macro level whereas the brunt of curruption faced by the common man at grassroot level in day to day life can only be solved through effective governence and simplification of rules/regulations/procedures and decentralised mechanism; 4.Keeping NGOs outside the purview of the Lokpal niether fits in the very basic principle of Anna agitation nor does it inspires credibility.

K.K.Gupta
New Shimla
From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: 'Fast unto Power'-Editorial Dt. 20 Sep.'11
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:40:30 +0000
This refers to "Fast unto Power" (ET Sep. 20). There should be no other consideration in entrusting the leadership of BJP at the national level to Narendra Modi except that the party at this juncture need be led by a strong person having the requisite perspective and the right kinds of commitments (to governance; to development). A national party can play significant role even as a strong oppsition party in shaping destiny of the country. So even if NDA breaks let there be no fear in the mind of BJP leadership because firstly this apprehension may prove unfounded and people may give BJP 250 plus seats in 2014 Parliamentry elections attracting allies to its fold and secondly if BJP has to remain on the Opposition side at least the prevailing bewilderment is bound to disappear thereby facilitating restoration of the Jan Sangh era glory when the voice of a couple of MPs used to be heard so intently.
Kushal Kumar
C 90 Sector 3
New Shimla
From: kushal_g@hotmail.com
To: editet@timesgroup.com
Subject: 'Wind up Air India'-ET dated 27 May 2010
Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 03:11:18 +0000

This refers to 'Wind up Air India' ET dated 27 May 2010. Privatisation of this 'national carrier' is the only solution and sooner the better as otherwise it is bound to become a 'national shame'. It would not be surprising if current year's loss is in five digits. In 2002, privatisation of the then Air India was almost done but got aborted due to last minute withdrawl by the bidder. Government has tried many options (including the most disastrous one-merger of AI & IA) but the situation has gone from bad to worse. Any delay in privatisation could only degrade Air India to such an extent that no private player would come forward as 'bidder'.

K.K.Gupta,IFS(Retd.)
Former Joint Secretary (Disinvestment), GoI
C-90, Sector-3, New Shimla-171009
Ph.-0177 2671960, 09418704785

Reforms-Need for highest priority in States agenda

The central government in India has an established system/mechanism to generate a debate on bringing about the administrative & financial changes to somewhat match requirements of the day. Also, there exists a network of institutions (governmental or private) which keep on flagging the issues from time to time to induce focus on the administrative & financial impediments, requiring reformatory measures. After independence, Government of India appointed three Administrative Reforms Commissions with the objective of reforming the system. Whether the recommendations of these Commissions made any impact or not is a debatable matter but even the critics can not deny that the recommendations implemented by the government have had positive effect in reducing, at least, the procedural delays to some extent in some of the areas of central government’s functioning. As regards the financial sector, Apart from the permanent government bodies like the RBI and SEBI, the Rangarajan Committee, the Disinvestment Commission and a couple of such other bodies drew central government’s attention to serious financial issues (regulatory as well structural) which helped in tiding over the crisis such as low foreign exchange reserves, bailing out of the economic meltdown and the unbearable drain of sick PSUs.
In case of States in the country, there neither exist a worthwhile system on the central pattern nor have there been serious attempts to focus on the administrative or the financial maladies, in most of the States. The common man in India is directly bearing the brunt because the State governments run the show (whether it is maintenance of law & order, granting permits/licenses/certificates or the implementation of developmental schemes). Due to this situation, the State governments need to focus attention on the issue of ‘Reforms’ (administrative as well as financial). In this backdrop, following are some of the suggestions:-

I. Enforcement of Accountability to ensure implementation of Govt./Directives/Programmes/Policies:- Activating the Monitoring Cell, Having a Precise & To the Point Reporting System in place (Weekly for critical matters and Monthly for all others) on the specially designed ‘Single Page’ Proformas enabling the State government at the highest level to have a ‘Bird’s Eye’ view at a glance about the flow of ‘Activities’ in each of the Departments;

II. Augmentation of Financial Resources (Revenue):-

 Strict Tax Compliance:- The current level of Revenue on account of Sales/Excise Tax can be increased by at least 80% (could be even 100%) by eliminating leakages through strict supervision/IT application/simplifying collection mode/prohibitive penality imposition;

 Levying Green Cess:- Imposition of a nominal ‘Green Cess’ on the Industrial Units in the State would not cause any pinch while the total annual collection could be substantial;

 Complying with the provisions of FRBM Act:- Containing the State Financial Deficit within the limits prescribed under the Central Financial Responsibility & Budget Management Act would get enhanced central grants;

 Power Sector Reforms:- Complying with the Central Govt. directions regarding Power sector reforms would enable the State Govt. get additional financial grants;

 Small sized Projects under Central Sector Schemes:- There is tremendous scope to seek funding under Central Sector Schemes being controlled by various central Ministries by posing small sized project proposals;
 Food Processing Industries:- The criticality of this activity is not only from the point of view of improving the value addition & preventing wastages but it will also enable the State Govts. in realizing hundreds of crores by way of taxes/cess;

 Herbal based Industries:- Development of herbal based industries would not only enable exploitation of the tremendous potential lying dormant in the State but will get substantial revenue to the exchequer;

 Reducing Unproductive Expenditure:- Economic Reforms/Public Sector Reforms/Administrative Reforms/Rationalisation measures would result in saving of hundreds of crores to the State exchequer.

III. Reforms:- In order to bring about ‘Good Governance’, the issues are flagged three major categories as under:
• Improvement of Work Culture;
• Decentralisation & Delegation of Powers/Responsibilities;
• Merit-based appointments/promotions;
• Incentives for Performance and Disincentives for Non-Performance;
• Objectivity in enforcement of Laws, Rules & Regulations;
• Effective Mechanism for Redressal of Public Grievances to inspire People's confidence;
• Effectiveness & Judiciousness in the working of the Police to restore People' Faith in the System;
• Greater Transparency & Openness in the governmental working;
• Mechanism for easy Public accessibility to Governmental Functionaries through rigorous field touring and regular reporting system by the officers at all levels.

IV. Development through Perspective Planning:- Having a Perspective for each of the Departments to prepare a Long-term Plan from which should emerge the Short-term Plans, as well as the requisite Straregies /Policies /Programmes /Projects /Schemes. The main issues are flagged as under:-
 Strengthening Education System (Better Infrastructure, Vocation oriented curricula);
 Strengthening Health Infrastructure;
 Drinking Water and Irrigation;
 Roads, Rails and Aviation Infrastructure;
 Improvement of Infrastructure relating to Civic Amenities;
 Infrastructural improvement to facilitate tapping of Renewable Energy Sources based on Solar and Wind for local energy requirements;
 Improvement of infrastructure to facilitate reduction of crop losses in Agro-Horticulture sector.

Vital Facts about India

• 7th largest area (329 mh) which is 2.5% of world geographical area;
• 2nd largest human population (1 bn);
• 16% of world's population (500 mn);
• 18% of world's domestic cattle population
• 1.8% of world's forest area;
• 22.6% of the area legally classified as Forests- of which 1.56% is Very Dense, 10.32% is Moderately Dense, 8.96% is Open Forests, 1.62% is Scrub Forests and 0.14% is Mangrove Forests;
• 51% of the legally classified area is under Reserved Forests (RFs), 31% is under Protected Forests (PFs) and 18% is under Unclassed Forests (UFs);
• 8% of world' bio-diversity- one of the 12 mega bio-diversity countries of the world;
• Having 2 global terrestrial bio-diversity hot spots- the North-East and the Western Ghats;
• Having 16 Forest types and 251 Forest sub-types, based on climatic and edaphic conditions;
• Teak, Sal, Dipterocarpus and the Conifers are the Principal Commercial species;
• Natural Habitats are Palearctic Trans-Himalayan in the North, Indo-Malayan in the North East, Indo-Ethiopian in the West, Oriental in Peninsular India and the Coastal & Island Eco-systems;
• 10 Bio-diversity rich Zoogeographic zones;
• 80,000 species of Animals;
• 45,000 species of Plants, of which 15,000 have medicinal value;
• 3,200 Wild Relatives of Agricultural Crops;
• 131 Wild Relatives of Domesticated Animals;
• 5,150 Endemic Plant species;
• 1,837 Endemic Animal species;
• 33 species facing extinction threat;
• 14 major basins draining numerous rivers;
• Rivers emanating from mountains are snow-fed, while the rivers emanating from central & southern parts are rain-fed;
• Annual rainfall varies from 37 cm. (in Rajasthan) to 1500 cm. (in Meghalaya-Cheerapunji);
• 3 distinct seasons- summer, winter and monsoon;