Centre alert on terror: Prez

New Delhi, Jan. 25: The President, Mrs Pratibha Patil, reassured the people on the eve of India’s 60th Republic Day that the government is vigilant and taking necessary steps to safeguard the country’s internal security.

“Government is committed to maintaining high vigil and take appropriate measures to address internal security challenges,” she said in her address to the nation.

Acknowledging terrorism as one of the biggest problems facing the country for more than two decades, she stated that the government has taken and will continue to take necessary steps to tackle threats emanating from terrorism. “It will continue to work with the international community to combat this menace,” she said.

On the strides made in the economic sphere, she said the country’s target of achieving double-digit growth rate is plausible and realistic, given its impressive performance during the last decade.

She also lauded the country’s resilience during the global economic downturn.

She said helping the poor and disadvantaged move up the economic ladder is a task that must be accomplished and “women need to be made full and equal partners. We should continue with policies that promote growth, and also take growth patterns to the bottom of the pyramid and, to those currently outside its purview,” she said.