Will tackle corruption frontally: Govt

Patil said the government "fully shares the concern about the ill-effects of black money whether generated by evasion oftaxes on income earned legitimately or through illegalactivities.

"My government stands committed to tackling the menacefrontally. It requires diligent, sustained effort by all lawenforcement agencies, including those of state governments,"she said.

The President said the government has taken many stepsto strengthen the legal framework, build new institutions andimprove capacity to tackle this problem.

A multi-disciplinary study has been commissioned to gointo its ramifications for national security and recommend asuitable framework to tackle it.

The government is also working closely with theinternational community, especially through the G-20, toexpedite the process of identification and recovery of suchmoney, she said.

Pointing out that India is now a member of the FinancialAction Task Force in recognition of its anti-money launderingand anti-tax evasion measures, she said India has also gainedmembership of the Eurasian group and the Task Force onFinancial Integrity and Economic Development.

"My government has taken steps to facilitate exchange ofinformation for tax purposes with such countries and entitieswhere Indian citizens have parked their money.

"The early results have been encouraging. These stepshave led to additional collection of taxes of Rs 34,601 croreand detection of additional income of Rs 48,784 crore," Patilsaid.

Referring to the internal security situation, thePresident said the country has "gone through a difficult year"as certain parts of the country suffered from "unacceptablyhigh levels of violence", especially areas affected byLeft-wing extremism and Kashmir valley.

However, in the rest of the country, she said, exceptfor two incidents of terror in Pune and Varanasi, the internalsecurity scenario has been largely under control.

The increase in police forces, with emphasis onrecruitment from areas affected by Left-wing extremism, hasbegun to show results, she said.

The government has recently approved an integratedaction plan for 60 selected tribal and backward districts innine states in order to address the felt needs of the localpopulation, Patil said.

She said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir hasimproved with a number of pro-active measures taken by thecentral and state governments and interlocutors have beenengaged fruitfully in their endeavours.

With regard to the North East, she said intensiveengagement with various groups has largely reduced violence inthose states. .