Speech of the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at the Valedictory Session of the 4th International Conference on Federalism

His Excellency Mr. A.M. Ahmad Sambi, the President of the Comoros,

His Excellency Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, Vice-President of Nigeria,

Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Shivraj Patil,

Dr. Arnold Koller, Chairman of the Forum of Federations,

Members of the Union Cabinet,

Hon'ble Governors

Hon'ble Chief Ministers,

Distinguished Dignitaries, Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I consider it as an honour to participate at the Valedictory function of the Fourth International Conference on Federalism, organized by the Inter-State Council in collaboration with the Forum of Federations. I am happy to note that the Conference is being attended by a large number of practitioners - elected representatives, civil servants, civil society representatives and young professionals from every continent. The theme and issues on which you have deliberated during the last three days - "Unity in Diversity: Learning from Each Other" - has a special relevance in our contemporary world. For us in India, federalism and the preservation of the underlying unity in our diversity are of great importance. We are particularly pleased that we are hosting this Conference just as we have completed the 60th year of our independence. We are proud that in these years we have not only reaffirmed but also strengthened our commitment to democracy, federalism and respect for diversity.

India is a country with an enormous plurality in language, religion, culture and ethnicity. India is a country of more than one billion people. One out of every six human beings in the world lives in India. 22 Indian languages are listed in our Constitution and more than 1,600 dialects are spoken in India. Every religion has its followers in India. From the mountains of Kashmir to the waters of Kanyakumari and from the deserts of Rajasthan to the forests of the North-East, Indians celebrate their varied cultures, festivals and religions and they effortlessly unite to make India a great nation.

When India attained its Independence in 1947, the process of nation building began. The Founding Fathers of our Constitution were acutely aware that a country as large in size and as diverse as India demanded a system in which local initiative and central administration were blended. Hence, in the Constitution of India adopted in 1950, the political structure was organized into a Union, States and the elected bodies of local self-government. The working of the Constitution has demonstrated the inherent strength and resilience of the Indian federal structure in withstanding the stresses and strains of diverse aspirations of the people. The Indian Constitution is a living document and has also been amended from time to time reflecting its resilience and dynamism. A significant Constitutional step was taken in 1993 to make "every village a republic". The concepts of democracy and federalism were maximized when people at the grassroots were empowered to elect their own representatives and to plan and implement programmes for their own economic development. As a consequence of the historic amendments to the Constitution, which the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi initiated, we now have a huge network of institutions of local self-government, to which we have elected some 3.2 million representatives, about 1.2 million of whom are women. This is by far the largest number of elected representatives ever in history, or anywhere in the contemporary world. Women, particularly, were given an opportunity through a system of reservation in the local bodies. We, in India, have understood that Unity in Diversity is the real strength of our country. By looking after the interests of each section of our diverse population, we strengthen our unity. It is, therefore, not surprising that India is today counted among federal democracies that have been successful in adopting an inclusive polity.

The timing of this Conference is very appropriate indeed. It is being held when the federal concept is gaining greater currency in the world. During the last few decades, parallel with the spread of democracy, the relevance of federalism has also been growing in the world. Thus, many countries have either adopted federalism or are moving towards it. Today, around 40 percent of the world's population is governed under some form of federal dispensation. This Conference, therefore, has a special relevance in the context of the significant political developments taking place in the contemporary world.

Democracy and Federalism should be the guiding principles for a new world order. Your discussions are a step towards promoting a better understanding about federalism. Federalism is not merely a legal-constitutional mechanism for the distribution of powers, both legislative and fiscal, among different levels of the government but it is a concept rooted in 'self-rule'. Power sharing arrangements between different units of government gives a sense of belonging to various groups within the political system. It facilitates the deepening and widening of the democratic process. By equipping the different units to take appropriate decisions, federalism helps in the judicious use of resources, increasing efficiency and better targeting of policies. Federalism, thus, is not only good politics. It is also good economics.

Humankind today is facing numerous challenges - man-made as well as natural - and expectations from federalism are very high. Today, we are called upon to deal with problems that have been with us for sometime now - poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and disease - along with new challenges like the effects of globalization, climate change and international terrorism. We, therefore, have to look at ideas and instruments that better equip us to deal with these issues effectively. The deliberations of this Conference, with its unique format of promoting exchange of experiences and mutual learning will go a long way in finding responses to these challenges. It is my hope that the delegates of the Conference will depart with a renewed commitment to enhance the federal system of governance, and to use it as a strategic tool for the fight against inequality and for building an equitable global order.

I also understand that in tandem with the main Conference, that took place within the Vigyan Bhavan, there has also been taking place a very lively, participatory and informative Outreach Event outside called Sanjha Safar, where you would have had an occasion to enjoy exhibitions, performing arts, food and also an opportunity to buy some handicrafts. The public hearings, youth parliament and children's workshops organized under the Outreach Event are designed to involve the ordinary citizens and the wider community with the ideas of federalism, democracy, decentralization and participation. This, indeed, is a praiseworthy effort.

I wish to congratulate the organizers of this Conference - the Inter State Council and the Forum of Federations for making this Conference a success.

India remains committed to the strengthening of democracy at home and abroad. We view this Conference as a part of our engagement with the world in widening the scope for democratization and federalism.

I am glad to learn that the Government of Ethiopia has offered to host the Fifth International Conference on Federalism and I wish to convey our good wishes to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Meles Zenawi and his Government for the success of the next Conference.

Jai Hind