New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced measures including an investment of Rs 25,000 crore in agriculture sector. In his address to nation from Red Fort on occasion of 60th anniversary of country’s independence, he said key initiatives of his government would include large increase in public spending on education, health care, agriculture and rural development.

He said, “Over the last three years, we have significantly increased public expenditure in the social sectors. This is in line with our commitment to the welfare of the common man.”

To promote social security in unorganized sector, he revealed an old age pension scheme for senior citizens above 65 years and below poverty line. Besides life and disability cover, there would be a new health insurance scheme for the poor.

Prime Minister said that the entire country would be covered by the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) that is presently in operation in 330 selected districts.

For addressing the issue of unrest arising out of setting up of Special Economic Zones and industrial projects, Singh said a national policy for rehabilitation and resettlement was on anvil.

Recognizing industrialization as the most effective means for creating new employment avenues, the government would give a new thrust to industrialization and planned urbanization.

It was time for a revolution in modern education, the Prime Minister announced that 6,000 new good quality government-funded schools would be opened and that universalisation of secondary education was on anvil.

For widening education, the government would help states to set up colleges in 370 districts and also open 30 new Central Universities, he said.

To boost vocational education and skill development, 1,600 new Industrial Training Institutes and Polytechnics, 10,000 new vocational schools and 50,000 new Skill Development Centres would be set up to enable 100 lakh students to get vocational training.

He said to boost science and professional education, 5 new Indian Institutes of Sciences Education and Research, 8 new Indian Institutes of Technology, 7 new Indian Institutes of Management and 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology were being set up.

He said, “We should seek not just functional literacy, but good quality education -- education that is affordable, accessible, equitable -- and available to every boy and girl who seeks to study. For the needy we will provide more scholarships.”

Manmohan Singh said that it was his “fervent desire” that India became a fully educated, modern and progressive nation. “From this historic Red Fort, I would like this message to go to every corner of India - we will make India a nation of educated people, of skilled people, of creative people.”

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to economic, social, political and educational empowerment of SC, ST, OBC and minorities, Singh said that he was happy that the private sector has been persuaded to “some extent” for taking affirmative action to provide a fair share of employment in industry and trade.

For tribals, he said the government has ensured they got rights over land they cultivated for generations in forest areas. To ensure that minorities were not left out of development programmes, Manmohan Singh said Prime Minister’s 15-point programme has been designed in such a way that they have the necessary resources to transform their lives.

Prime minister described malnutrition as a matter of national shame, he said the government has tried to address it by making the mid-day meal universal. “We need the active involvement of the community and panchayats to see that what we spend reaches our children” and also appealed to nation to resolve and work hard to eradicate malnutrition within five years.

Referring to less developed regions in country, he said the backward Regions Grant Fund was in operation in 250 districts to help them catch up with other parts of country.

He described water as a “national asset,” he urged the states to resolve inter-state disputes over water sharing with an “attitude of give and take”.

Manmohan Singh expressed concern over global warming. Referring to northeastern region and Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said the Centre was making investments to usher in greater prosperity in these areas.

Observing that New Delhi was keen on having good ties with all countries, he said India has emerged as a bridge between many extremes of the world.

He said India wants to live in a neighborhood of peace and prosperity and promised best of relations with all of them.

“We fritter away our time on petty issues and pointless personal differences,” he added.