The best is yet to come, Singh says on I-Day

New Delhi: In his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the country's independence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the key initiatives of his government would include massive increase in public spending on education, health care, agriculture and rural development.

Following are the highlights of Singh's address to the nation:

Key Messages

India is on the move – poverty eradication is now a feasible goal.

Time for a revolution in modern education. Widening access to education a key goal.

Farmers welfare core of all concerns. Need to bridge rural-urban divide.

Industrialisation most effective means to create new employment opportunities.

India's approach to global problems based on idea of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam – whole world is one family.

India's composite culture and pluralism make India a "bridge between global divides".

Key Initiatives:

Massive increase in public spending on Education, Health Care, Agriculture and Rural Development.

To promote social security in unorganised sector – old age pension scheme for senior citizens above age of 65 and below.

Scheme for poor to be launched soon.

Revolution in modern education – 6,000 new good quality government-funded schools. Universalisation of secondary education on anvil. Centre to help states set up colleges in 370 districts to raise gross enrolment ratio. 30 new Central Universities.

Mission on Vocational Education and Skill Development – 1,600 new industrial training institutes and polytechnics; 10,000 new Vocational Schools; 50,000 new Skill Development Centres. 100 lakh students to get Vocational Training – four fold increase from today's level.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to be implemented in the entire country.

Special programme to invest at least Rs 25,000 crore in Agricultural Sector.

National policy for rehabilitation and resettlement on anvil.

New thrust to industrialisation and planned urbanisation.

National Campaign for Cleanliness to encourage community participation in neighbourhood improvement.

(With inputs from UNI)