Amid the seemingly never-ending litany of scams and inflation that has remained largely untamed, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is busy finalising a ‘Report to the People’ on the performance of the Congress-led UPA in the fourth year in office in its second term.
The report for 2012-13 is scheduled to be released by the PM on May 22 and as has been the case in the past, he will hand over the first copy to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
It is expected to highlight the Direct Benefit Transfer(DBT) scheme and FDI in retail . Despite the tall claims, there is unlikely to be much progress in the report in the last year before the next general elections.
The UPA Government could not get important Bills passed in the Parliament, which would directly affect the interests of the farmers, women and children. While presenting the report to the people for 2011-12, Prime Minister had underlined the need to work quickly to scale up higher education.
Although the Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011 provides for the establishment of an over-arching authority called the National Commission for Higher Education and Research for determining, maintaining and coordinating standards in Higher Education, it remains little more than a proposal at best.
Similarly, the Education Tribunal Bill, the Foreign Educational Institutions ( Regulation entry and operational) Bill, Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and University Bills are also pending in Parliament.
As claimed by the Prime Minister in last year’s report, The Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2011 was introduced in Parliament. But it is still pending. Manmohan also mentioned the comprehensive Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011, The Right of Citizens for Time-bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill 2011 and The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill.But none of these have been passed by Parliament.