Yes, we have. We have a sense of satisfaction because for three continuous years we have achieved 8 per cent growth. Export has risen to 22, 23 per cent growth. Foreign exchange reserves are more than $180 billion. We have been able to make some epoch making legislations like Right to information, Employment Guarantee Scheme.

For the first time in a country like ours unemployed youth can demand jobs and it is their legal right. Then you have proprietary rights to women and on domestic violence. We have also been able to abolish a draconian legislation like POTA.

Then certain important, major developmental projects have been undertaken, the second Administrative Reforms Commission has been established. A National Rural Health Mission has been launched. The Sachar Committee has given us a picture of the socioeconomic status of minorities. These are all major achievements on the economic and other fronts.

During these three years there has not been any major communal riot. We have been able to maintain peace and communal harmony by and large. Terrorist activities are there, Naxalite activities are there but we have taken effective steps to contain it.

Therefore, the overall performance of the government is quite encouraging. To review Centre-state relations another commission has been appointed after the Sarkaria Commission.

In foreign policy, we have taken some major steps. For the first time after 1949 the Indo-Bhutan treaty had been updated and that too without any problem. The expansion of SAARC and the 14th SAARC summit clearly demonstrate that SAARC is no longer a deliberating body. The time has come to implement the decisions of SAARC and that is being recognised by the signing of the two agreements -- establishment of a food bank and the university. These two are the major achievements.

On international trade and commerce we are having a large number of engagements nowadays. Trilateral foreign ministers between India, China and Russia have been institutionalised. Ipsa, Mecon -- Ganga cooperation -- these are some of the important initiatives which this government has taken. Image: Chairperson of the UPA government and Congress party President Sonia Gandhi.
Photograph: Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images
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