We believe that our young women and men will be the architects of the 'new' India of the 21st century. I am confident that a buoyant national economy will create tremendous employment opportunities. I am equally confident that our focus on education and health will prepare today's youth for tomorrow's challenges. The Government of free India had set itself the noble task of wiping every tear from every eye, of ending centuries-old discriminations and social inequities. Somewhere along the journey from freedom to the eve of this century, Government lost track of that task.
Illiteracy is a curse and a denial of human dignity.
As is gender discrimination or, for that matter, lack of something as basic and essential as drinking water and primary health care. Our Government pledges itself to narrowing the gap between our performance and your expectation. The Mandate of '99 is a bond of trust between people and Government. We shall not betray this trust.