My colleagues who spoke earlier have spoken in detail about some of the failures of the Government during this period. The Government has claimed that most of the promises made through the Common Minimum Programme have been fulfilled. It is not true. The UPA Government has failed to fulfil the promises. This is a very unfortunate situation. So, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, not only while presenting the Budget but also even while replying to the President's Address, was explaining the victories of the UPA Government for the last four-and-a-half years. The Government claims that 62 lakh houses have been constructed, pension amount has been increased, longstanding problems of farmers have been solved, loan waiver has been granted, the Right to Information Act has been passed etc. It is true that some of these good flagship schemes and projects have been launched by the Government. But with the continuous demand of the Left Parties, they had to accept some of these programmes and get them implemented. We do take the credit, but at the same time, I would like to say that some of these schemes are not very successful. Though the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is extended to all the districts of the country, even according to the Ministry of Rural Development, only 45 days of work could be given to the rural labour in this country last year. The promise that half the wage would be given, if employment could not be provided within 15 days of request, has not been fulfilled in most of the places including my constituency. Though the request for employment is made, employment has not been provided and the allowance, that is, 50 per cent of the wage, which is to be provided, that also has not been given. Sir, five years back, the NDA Government.
