Promises were the agenda of 2014 at the Surajkund Samvad Baithak. Congress president Sonia Gandhi reminded senior leaders that the party has to meet the commitments made in the 2009 election manifesto to garner a majority in the 16th Lok Sabha. But the porridge of economic liberalisation, administrative streamlining and big-ticket social spending is far from ready. Sonia has asked the Congress Ministers to ensure no further delay in the implementation of the poll promises. While releasing the party manifesto on March 24, 2009, Sonia had claimed that the Congress promises what it can do and will do what it promises. But many promises of 2009 remain unfulfilled.
Bill Kill: The UPA could not get important Bills—such as the Women Reservations Bill, The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, the Seeds Bill, the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill and the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010—passed which would have helped farmers, women and children.
Many in the party feel that some initiatives may have been held up due to coalition compulsions and the lack of numbers in Parliament but it is not a plausible excuse for the tawdry progress in other schemes.
Minorities Flop: The Ministry of Minority Affairs has not utilised funds allocated under the ongoing schemes and programmes during the first three years; instead it surrendered has surrendered the money to the finance ministry— Rs 33.63 crore in 2008-09, Rs 31.50 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 587.70 crore in 2010-11.
- Sunday Standard