The recession being a global phenomenon, the remedy is not going to be home made. Therefore apart from some short term stimulus, the major focus should be on ensuring long term sustainable growth. The past 5 years have seen some exceptional schemes like the RTI, Nuclear deal, National Rural Health Mission and NREGA. Now with the left on the wrong side of the Government and going by the PM's natural inclination, the banking and economic reforms would surely receive a kick-start. This would have been no different even if a BJP-led NDA had come to power. The BJP is a religious right wing and not a ecomonic right wing party.
Where I think this Government should try make a difference would be in areas of Governance and Infrastructure development - traditionally the banes of most Congress governments.
I deem a focus on the following parameters as essential for the success of this Government. On the governance front:
- Police Reforms - To make the police department an effective deterrant to criminals
- CBI reforms - To move the agency from the clutches of the Central Govt and make it truely independent.
- Judicial Reforms - No more justice denied or justice delayed
- Administrative reforms - Make the bureacracy more accountable
- Strengthen Lok Ayukta and ACB
With a conscientious PM at the help, this is perhaps the best time for these reforms to come about. On the infrastructure front:
- Another round of power sector refroms - with a view on clean power. Achieve 'Power for all by 2012'
- Renewed focus on Highways and upgrading the road network; connecting all villages
- Keep up the momentum on freight corridors and speed trains
Needless to say, the absence of the Left should not pre-empt reckless reforms. 'Conscience keeping' needs to be an important trait ingrained into all aspects of governance and development.
A very well written article in which you have considered very many pain points and areas of growth to be addressed. Whichever right wing stance this government takes, I am sure it would be good for the country because the Left's wings have been clipped. My expectations from this government are exactly what it has been previously promising - stability and inclusive growth.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't mentioned anything about education. The previous congress govt. was responsible for screwing up the higher education system by mindlessly increasing seats and giving reservations reducing the world class institutes wanting in enough "class"rooms.
ReplyDeleteLets get back to the basic question. Increasing seats is fine but the question rolls back to the reservation issue and I am pretty sure that once given, removing the reservation is never going to happen.
ReplyDeleteYes, true. May be I have to terms with living with reservations.
ReplyDeleteBut I strongly think, with the rising influence of the private sector in the economy, it is only a matter of time before everyone finds their rightful place under the sun.
You win some, you lose some. I am sure some of your friends who have not made it to the IIT (possibly due to the reservation thing) will surely carve their own successful path. The opposite also holds.
I have seen this happen to myself and some of my friends on either side of the fence. Therefore it is not just preaching :)
On one side of the argument, it can be said that reservations, once given, are like Lord Shiva's boons and certainly cannot be repealed. Without getting into the issue of whether reservations are good or not, I would say that the approach followed by the government to increase the seats in a phased manner is absolutely the correct method. But again, the efficacy of implementation leaves much to be desired.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the government has been instrumental in almost doubling the number of world class institutes like IITs and IIMs, which is absolutely the right thing to do if we are to compete with other nations in terms in terms of knowledge capital. Frankly, we have been living in the Stone Age as far as quality higher education is concerned for the last 50 years and happily, it is about to change. Also, the govt must concentrate on increasing the no. of purely research oriented institutes like the IISc. This is one positive spin off as far as the reservations issue is concerned in that the govt., probably out of a fear of backlash, has taken up these reforms in order to pacify the agitated majority mf the people.
Very optimistic development & growth ideas are discussed for India. Yes, India needs huge infrastructure and this is the high time to develop. In slowdown times, there is a need for cash flows in the economy which can happen through new projects in the sectors where infrastructure is lagging. In India, sectors like Logistics, Civil Infrastructure, Aviation, Urban Planning, Railways, Agriculture are in real need.
ReplyDeleteLike Bandra - Worli link project is contributing for Infra development, employment generation, also creates cash flows(taxes paid to govt, salaries paid by govt). India needs many like these .. . .. .