Action plan for employment generation

25 January 2005

On the eve of the 56th Republic Day of India, my greetings to all of you, including those living abroad. I convey my special greetings, to the members of our armed forces and the paramilitary forces, who guard our frontiers on the land, the sea and in the air and also the internal security forces. While we are saddened by the wrath of the Tsunami waves, we are not disheartened.

The central and state governments, with utmost seriousness and sincerity have reached out to those who needed help and are in the process of providing relief that will atleast partially wipe out the pains caused by the Tsunami. During this period of active relief operations, my heart was with you, but I did not make a visit because the members of the government and non-government organisations (NGOs) were deployed in large numbers in relief operations, which were in full swing.

Reviews were taken by our prime minister, governors, the chief ministers of the respective states and the Lt. governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Now, I feel that the time has come, for me to join you, my fellow citizens, to study the process of the reconstruction of homes and bringing back normalcy.

Smile of Youth

I have met more than six hundred thousand children from all parts of our country, after becoming the President. During my interaction with them, they posed a series of questions, with affection. They asked:

"Mr. President, you saw us smile, when we were five years old. We smiled because we were blossoming innocently. When we came to our teens, smiles slowly faded away and the signs of concern appeared. You said that it is because of our anxiety about our future. This anxiety, almost took away our smiles. When we complete our education, the top most questions in our mind were, what would I do after my education? Will I get employment? Our parents, who have spent all their savings on our education, also share the same concern. Mr. President, will I get proper employment and be able to contribute to India, to make it a Developed Nation?" Their questions really made me to think and think.