Trade unions are supposed to provide certain services to their members. Trade unions are independent only when they do not depend on outside help. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that trade unions should charge from a members a minimum of Rs. 50 per year as membership subscription. Unless that is done, trade unions cannot have resources to enable them to provide the minimum services to their members. We have seen that the infiltration of trade unions by political parties, infiltration of whole timers of political parties into trade unions, does not help them. Trade unions to be healthy should have their own whole-time functionaries. How can a trade union, which does not charge from its members even a minimum of Rs. 50 per year, ever hope to provide an office, some staff and some whole-time functionaries to lead the union? Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that such a provision should be made. With regard to education, the outlay for higher education has been increased by 300 per cent. Emphasis was given on quality education, and to improve literacy, 15 new central universities and six new IITs were set up. For the minorities, a 15-point programme was initiated. There is a flow of funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women and children. As a result of the efficient fiscal reforms and controls by the Government and the Reserve Bank of India, the inflation has come down from 13 per cent to less than four per cent. An outstanding feet of this Government has been the Nuclear Deal without signing the CTBT and ending our nuclear isolation of the last three decades. Madam, for growth and prosperity, it is very necessary that we have peace, unity and tranquility. Communalism, casteism and regionalism are the antithesis of our freedom movement struggle and of our basic Constitution. It is unfortunate that for petty electoral gains people are resorting to fanning communal hatred amongst the people. The UPA has succeeded in curbing such elements.
