PM writes to Cabinet on 100-day agenda

After having prioritised the United Progressive Alliance government's programmes for its second term, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is asking his ministerial colleagues to stick to the agenda listed for the first 100 days in office.

Dr Singh is writing a letter to his colleagues in the Union Council of Ministers to focus on the priorities and programmes outlined in President Pratibha Patil's address to the joint sitting of Parliament. The letter will also focus on good governance, sources in the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday.

Last week, the prime minister wrote to the Finance Ministry to ensure that the ensuing Budget adequately and appropriately reflected the government's priorities set out in Patil's address.

In her address, the President highlighted the UPA government's ambitious agendas like providing rice or wheat at Rs three per kg for the families living below poverty line, enlarging National Rural Employment Guarantee Act's coverage and more focus on infrastructure to bring the economy on high growth.

According to reports, the prime minister has suggested that policy pronouncements should not be made where there are differences in the Cabinet. Also, he is reported to have told his Cabinet colleagues that the ministers of state, especially the younger ministers, must be given adequate responsibility and work.