Our foremost priority is the removal of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, disease and illiteracy. All social welfare programmes must be implemented efficiently. Agencies involved in the delivery of services should have a strong sense of duty and work in a transparent, corruption-free, time-bound and accountable manner.

It is an ideology born out of hatred and its adherents belong to no religion, culture or civilisation.

A paradigm shift, where, in addition to, physical inputs for farming, a focused emphasis placed on knowledge inputs, can be a promising way forward. This knowledge based approach will bring immense returns particularly in Rainfed and Dryland farming areas.

India is known for its sobriety and wisdom, balanced and sensible thinking. We need strong institutions and we need good governance in the country.

There should be no effort, consciously or otherwise, that will lead to the erosion of institutional credibility and authority.

Often, we are quick to find blame with others but yet are unable to give constructive responses. There seems to be a tendency to doubt almost everything. Do we not have faith in our own people's strengths and in our institutions? Can we afford distrust amongst ourselves?

Women have talent and intelligence but due to social constraints and prejudices, it is still a long distance away from the goal of gender equality.