We’ll make the future happen

(Source: Times of India, Mumbai, 31st Aug, Page 2)

February 29, 1992 marked the beginning of India’s economic liberalisation. Here, then finance minister Manmohan Singh lays out the roadmap in that year’s Budget speech.
To realise our development potential, we have to unshackle the human spirit of creativity, idealism, adventure and enterprise that our people possess in abundant measure. We have to harness all our latent resources for a second industrial revolution and a second agriculture revolution. Our economy, polity and society have to be extraordinarily resilient and alert if we are to take full advantage of the opportunities and to minimise the risks associated with the increasing globalisation of economic processes. We have to accept the need for restructuring and reform if we are to avoid an increasing marginalisation of India in the evolving world economy. The economic policy changes brought about by our government under the inspiring leadership of prime minister Narasimha Rao in the last eight months are inspired by this vision. Our party is an inheritor of great traditions of national service. True to this heritage, we commit ourselves to providing a firm and purposeful sense of direction to the reform process so that this ancient land of India regains its glory and rightful place in the comity of nations. This budget represents a contribution to the successful implementation of this great national enterprise, of building an India free of war, want and exploitation, an India worthy of the dreams of the founding fathers of our republic. We shall pay any price, bear any burden, make any sacrifice to realise those dreams. India is on the move again. We shall make the future happen.