Reforms our number one priority: PM

PM Manmohan Singh said reforms are government's top priority.

Faced with criticism of policy inertia of UPA-II,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said reforms are government’s top priority and difficult decisions would be required for 9 per cent growth in the 12th Plan.

A broad political consensus would be necessary for key reforms in the financial sector,Singh said after the full Planning Commission meeting,which approved the Approach Paper for the 12th Plan (2012-17).

“It is our hope that we should generate a broad climate in which all political parties can unite to push forward an agenda which is in broad national interest. That will be our priority number one to push the reform process forward,” he said.

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He said given the global uncertainties,the country can achieve 9 per cent growth in the 12th Plan “only if we can take some difficult decisions”.

“We will also keep open the possibility of raising the growth rate,if the domestic and international situation improves,to 9.2 per cent,” he said.

Capturing the mood of the country against corruption,the Approach Paper stresses on governance issues in implementation of the Centre’s flagship programmes,which have mammoth outlay of Rs 1.87 lakh crore for the current fiscal.

“Corruption at various levels of administration is weakening the confidence of citizens in quality of governance…,” the Approach Paper said calling for setting up institutions,like Lokpals and Lokayuktas.