Shravanabelagola, February 15, 2006: Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, largely responsible for the release of nearly Rs.75 Crores of Central funds toward the millennium’s first Mahamasthakabhisheka celebrations, and Infosys Foundation’s Sudha Murthy were in the limelight at Wednesday’s celebrations.
When Shravanabelagola Pontiff Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji made a public acknowledgement of Montek Singh’s role atop the Vindhyagiri Hills in the presence of Bhagwan Bahubali’s monolith, the huge gathering mainly from Rajasthan gave him a huge round of applause. After this it was the turn of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade to brief the Deputy Chairman regarding Bhgawan Bahubali and his ideals. “He has witnessed history for a thousand years and will be there even after all of us are gone. His ideals of non-violence and renunciation are immortal and transcends time.” When Heggadeji said these words Montek Singh was visibly moved. “I am touched and honoured to be here and for having got an opportunity to be a part of such a celebration”, he said.
Earlier, before going up the Vindhyagiri Hills for the celebrations, Montek Singh accompanied by Sudha Murthy and Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Vice Chairperson of Planning Board, Punjab, went up the Chandaragiri hills and visited the state of the art Media Centre. “This has been a wonderful visit – my second- to Shravanabelagola. I have just gone up Chandragiri Hills and now look forward to the Mahamasthakabhisheka in an hour or so. This is a truly amazing site of great historical and spiritual importance,” Singh singed in the visitors’ book. On the other hand Sudha Murthy, as only to be expected, was impressed by the Media Centre. “The arrangements are very good and very useful. I am impressed by the connectivity,” she wrote.
Shravanabelagola heritage site: “Shravanabelagola has all the attributes to be declared a world heritage site. However, securing Shravanabelagola this recognition is not an easy process. I will take up the matter with Tourism Minister Ambika Soni on my return,” Montek Singh Ahluwalia told mediapersons on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference, the Deputy Chairman said the Planning Commission was currently working on the 11th Plan and the document would be ready within a year from now. The Plan makes a comprehensive review of the economy and also takes a look at the correctives that need to be made in the Industrial policy.
Pointing out that the Government was already according great importance to the agricultural sector as symbolized by the ‘Bharat Nirman’ programme, he said more steps would be taken to promote additional rural infrastructure. Agricultural productivity and rural connectivity were priority sectors, and strenuous efforts would be made to broaden the rural credit base through rural co-operatives.
The Deputy Chairman said everybody was convinced of the importance of rural infrastructure and the importance of roads for economic development. Consequently, the Planning Commission was developing a medium term plan for development of roads. Under the Prime Minister’s Sadak Yojana, additional programmes are envisaged for development of national highways. While National High Development Project 1 and the Golden Quadralaterals were already on, under NHDP 3, road length of 10,000 kms will be developed linking ports and places of historic importance. Through NHDP 4, a road length of 20,000 kms will be covered and through NHDP 5 and 6, all the by passes would developed, four lanes will become six lanes and more expressway will come up.
On a question about protection under labour laws, Montek SinghAhluwalia said the Government was also concerned about the hire and fire policy adopted in the private sector and added that the Government itself was against such a policy. – Jain Heritage Centres News Service (JHCNS)