UPA-II Celebrates 3 Years in Office: Sonia Says UPA Can Win in 2014

However, he said, "We have to remove implementation bottlenecks that are preventing large projects from getting off the ground... Determined measures are needed to boost the climate for industrial investment, both domestic and foreign."

 He also underlined the need to resolve issues relating to land acquisition, resettlement and the environment on priority basis and strengthen food security system by building more storage capacity.

 Singh further said poverty has declined at twice the rate that it did before the UPA government's tenure and there have been notable successes in agriculture which recorded a growth of 3.3 per cent in the 11th Plan as against 2.3 per cent in the previous Plan.

 "Rural wages also have increased. Farmers have been given handsome prices for their crops. This year has seen record foodgrain production, crossing 250 million tonnes for the first time in our history. More than Rs 2 lakh crore was disbursed to 2.75 crore marginal and small farmers as loans", he added.

 Singh further said that efforts were being intensified to pursue affirmative measures to expand opportunities for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and women.

With 2 years left, Sonia says work and not promises will pay

 Battling perception of policy paralysis, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday acknowledged that the ruling alliance can earn another mandate only on the basis of its actions in coming two years and not promises.

 Speaking to allies at a dinner to mark the completion of three years of UPA-II, she accused the opposition of being aggressive and making irresponsible statements.

 "We are aware that only two years are left when we will be seeking a new mandate from the people. We are fully aware that the result of that will not depend on our promises but on the nature of work done by us," Gandhi said in her brief address.

 She said since UPA took charge of the government, India has been advancing on the growth map in a sustained manner because of which it has been able to provide money for projects of social and rural development.

 "Because of this the Centre has been able to give that kind of financial assistance to the state government which was never seen earlier," Gandhi said, adding that the government has to sustain the momentum of this development.