Talk of
the "Feel Good Factor" and "India Shining" pervades our media today.
One cannot turn to a panel discussion on TV or read the front page
of a national newspaper without being assaulted by such phrases.
With more than $ 100 Billion in foreign exchange
reserves, a relatively high growth rate of more than 8 per cent,
robust software exports and the stock markets reaching for historic
highs, such euphoric talk is perhaps understandable. But is it
justifiable?
Any cook
knows that the icing on top does not make a cake: the real proof
lies in the eating.
One
quarter to a half of the people of India live below the poverty
line,depending on how one defines it. One third to one half of its
people cannot read, let alone write, depending on how one measures
these. One sixth to ninetenths of our children are vaccinated
depending on who reports them. Even at their most optimistic, the
figures are large enough to make one wonder who is feeling good and
where is the nation really shining? Even the best statistical
jugglery and finest political rhetoric cannot hide the gross
inequities that beset our country today.
The
Indian economy has unquestionably made huge progress, particularly
since the policy changes introduced in the early
1990s.Liberalization has certainly led to better outcomes and we
need much more of it. And also of privatization – governments should
govern and business should run businesses. The gradual but growing
integration with the global economy can, if sensibly guided, also
help accelerate the processes by which our own economy can become
healthier.
But the
key to the future lies in the question "healthier for whom?" True
governance lies in making sure that everyone in the nation benefits
– and indeed, that the less fortunate benefit relatively more. This
is not the case for India today. There are some 500 million, perhaps
more, of our fellow citizens for whom the feel-good factor is simply
a bad joke. For them, the shine wore off a long time ago, many say
soon after the Republic was inaugurated in their name.
True
governance also lies in taking measures to conserve the natural
resource base on which the poor depend directly for their day to day
lives and livelihoods. Despite relatively enlightened policies to
protect the environment, our rivers and waters, our soils
and our forests continue to be under enormous threat.
India
will begin to shine when we become honest with ourselves and start
to address the real issues when:
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we report that the
availability of foodgrains to our fellow citizens is actually
falling, despite the much vaunted surpluses that are rising; |
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we admit that half
the children of our country are mal-nourished; |
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we confess that half
our villages do not have adequate drinking water; |
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we acknowledge that
the percentage of children vaccinated in some states is as low
as 16%, and not 100% as reported by them; |
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we disclose that
despite our success in the global economy (or is it because of
it?), we have more unemployed people today than we ever had
before; |
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we recognize that
our bloated, overpaid and underperforming systems of government
are a huge and unnecessary drain on the economy. |
And,
when we do something about all these issues.
The
Mahatma set an example for our country of the value of truth. Let us
not forget its importance for getting our priorities as a nation
right. Only when we do so, will the enormous improvements in the
lives of the better off brought about by a few sensible investments
– in roads, in communications and in building up the skills of our
professionals – lead to broader investments for the creation of
better lives and livelihoods for all.