Inclusive growth not possible without addressing corruption: FM

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said it was not possible to promote inclusive growth without addressing corruption and governance issues.

"...governance failures and corruption in the system affect the poor disproportionately. An inclusive development agenda cannot succeed without addressing these issues," he said while addressing the Chief Minister's Conclave organised by India Today magazine here.

Noting that there are gaps in development efforts, Mukherjee said, "It is not sufficient to have good intentions and good policies. They have to be implemented and acted upon. That requires collective efforts of the Centre and state governments".

He said it was necessary to address the issues of governance as "they are also constraints on our capacity to sustain the new found momentum (of growth) in the medium to long-term."

The country has recently witnessed a public outcry over corruption with social activist staging a protest in support of an effective Lokpal Bill.

Mukherjee expressed the hope that use of information technology and introduction of unique identity numbers would help in improving the public delivery system.

"Provision of identity will enhance the access of poor and marginalised to public services, financial services and enable efficient delivery of benefits directly to the targeted population. It is the key that would hopefully facilitate the marginalised to enter and benefit from the economic mainstream," he added.