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Sir, there is a need for the change in education system, but at the same
time, we are forgetting our ideals today. If we tell our children that Akbar
was great, then why do not we tell them about the valiant Maharana Pratap
who fought against him. It is true that Mahatma Gandhi played a unique role
in our freedom struggle, but during the last so many years, we have paid
focus on the theme that we have got freedom without shedding blood. This
has left an indelible impression on the minds of the youth and they have
forgotten the revolutionaries who shed blood during the freedom struggle.
As a result, there is lack of national consciousness and patriotic zeal and
fervour among the youth and the demons of corruption and terrorism are
playing havoc. We should ponder over this situation and there is still time
when we can awaken the spirit of nationalism by strengthening the
infrastructure and providing equal opportunities to men and women of the
nation. Thus, once again, India can have its pride of place among the group
of various nations and become a world leader. The demons of population
explosion, illiteracy, hunger, women exploitation, corruption, criminalisation
of politics, foreign pressures are playing havoc. We will have to eradicate
these evils and there is the need to give energy to the present system. We
will not only deliberate on it, but take effective steps also in this direction.
For the progress of any country, it is essential that the infrastructure in
important sectors is strengthened. Means of transport play a vital role in the
overall development of a country. But, today, various means of transport, be
it road or trains, are neglected. We have not made desired progress in laying
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new railway tracks. Similarly, the percentage of goods traffic is also

declining. One of the reasons is that with the change in the Cabinet, our
priorities also change. Some of the projects are abandoned half way after
spending crores of rupees on them. One such project is in my area where
the work of railway line is not up to the mark. Similarly, there should have
been road network across the country. It is an important means for
transportation of goods. Therefore, part of the income from petrol should
be utilised in improving the condition of roads in the country. But, Sir, while
we may make progress in the field of transport industry or in the physical
sense, we are forgetting the most important element in the process, that is,
the men and women of this country and in fact, we are neglecting the
human resources. In the field of literacy, we have not been able to achieve
the targets in proportion to the expenditure. We have not been able to
provide primary health service to each village and have not effectively
implemented primary education and provided other basic facilities. In the
field of sports also, there is lack of proper facilities and the talents are being
ignored. The sports schemes are being neglected so much that neither the
facilities reach the various talented sportsmen nor are talented sports
persons identified and properly trained. This is the main reason of our poor
performance at the Olympics. Personality development is an integral part of
sports and as it has not been effectively exploited, human development in
the country has not taken place as it ought to be. The most important force
in the country is women. What is their plight today? There was a time when
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she used to proudly say that a person who would win me in war, who would
tame me and is equally powerful, he can only become my husband. Today,
the condition of women in the country is miserable. We may launch any
number of schemes for the welfare of women and legislate any number of
laws to safeguard their interests, unless there is a change in attitude
towards them and they are not treated as human beings, nothing will
change for them. The country cannot reach the pinnacle of progress without
them. She is the builder of society. According to official figures, crores of
rupees have been spent on the welfare of SCs and STs. I have seen the
economic, social and political condition of the tribals from very close
quarters. No effective improvement is visible in the economic and social
condition of the tribals. There is a lot of corruption in the developmental
programmes meant for the tribals and there is nobody to check it. Articles
14, 15, 16, 17 and 51, 335, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 48 should be rigorously
implemented with a view to facilitate development, bring harmony and
ensure economic development in the country. It will also help in keeping the
unity of the country intact by protecting the culture, making the country
strong and resourceful and restoring its prestigious place of world leader.
Article 334 provides that reservation of seats for the SCs and STs shall cease
to have effect on the expiration of a period of ten years. Articles 370 and
371 confer special status on some States and it should be abrogated so that
all States enjoy equal status. I would also suggest that legal right to monitor
the ongoing developmental schemes in tribal belts of the country should be
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given to the representatives belonging to the tribals. Further, I would also

suggest that the funds earmarked for the tribal areas should be spent in
these areas alone and these funds should not be allowed to be diverted to
any other head or place. Hence, effective steps must be taken to check it.
Effective measures should also be taken to improve the economic condition
of these people collectively and individually. Sir, at the end, being a son of
the soil myself, I would like to say a few words about the economic
condition of the farmers. I would request that the agricultural policy should
be formulated in such a way that the farmers could get a remunerative price
for their produce and their interests could be saved.