Failures of Modi Government

Prof N.K. Singh

( Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India )

Modi government came into being on assurance of better management of law and order and defense of the country. Advent of Narendra Modi had raised high hopes of the country on ‘feel secure and feel good factor’. It continues to feel good but it is not fully secure in many areas. Security remains one of the weak spots without much success in controlling left terror and Kashmir imbroglio. Mass killing of security personnel in Bastar in Chhattisgarh and continuous stone pelting in Kashmir remain unsolved critical security failures.

Article 370 of the Constitution on Kashmir, giving it special protection, remains still on the statute although it was committed to be removed. It is being claimed time and again that separatists are receiving funding from Pakistan for fermenting trouble in Kashmir. Over and above this the separatist leaders are receiving doles and concessions from the central and state governments. Why could these concession not be stopped forthwith and we simply wait and watch. Now some raids are going on but nothing is certain what could be pinned down. It is known that problem is being created by separatists of only five out of 22 districts of the Jammu and Kashmir. Why it has not been possible to isolate these and deal with them? Why they continue to get all facilities of education, health and finance all over India but they don’t allow other Indian citizens to have any toe hold in the state? Even displaced Kashmiris have not returned to valley. Shias too are feeling insecure and government has done nothing to take them in confidence.

No doubt, Home Minister claims to have 45% reduction in infiltration from Pakistan after surgical strikes. In north India too he claims increased surrender of insurgents and improvement. Despite statistical progress, the feeling at ground especially after mass killings of security personnel and mass rapes in many states makes one feel depressed. Though belatedly now the government is finally acting against the separatists in Kashmir. There is no doubt that many of these measures are in the realm of state government jurisdiction but central government has its nodal role and responsibility.

Let us look into policy and planning drawbacks. Abolition of Planning Commission was in the right direction as it had become superfluous after liberalization. It was relic of socialist regime and central control. NITI Ayog set up in its place has not shown much verve or substantial intellectual input in the overall direction of economy. No doubt, PM has given a new direction to the economy with energising many social and economic areas such as Swachh Bharat and Make in India. Demonetisation was also a lone battle for PM and few advisers. The expectation of job creation has not materialised though many projects are in pipe line.

* Failure to urgently create structure for jobs and controlling unemployment will spell a down ward market feel although so far the market is responding well.

Spectacular achievement of the government was passage of the GST Act and change of statute. It was a monumental work that taxed the Finance Minister. Finally it may reduce employment rather than increasing it. For the present, it is yet to be implemented and results will only show if this would bring more projects or companies. Problem, however, is that government remains dependent on bureaucracy and has not developed any alternative system. NITI Ayog should not have been made in mirror image of Planning Commission but a selected group of top consultants or advisers with lean staff to convert ideas into reality. Modi has fertile brain and can generate many ideas but there should be a mechanism to incubate these and ground them. If we have to create jobs in private sector we must have wisdom of private sector contributing to the policy making. Failure to urgently create structure for jobs and controlling unemployment will spell a down ward market feel although so far the market is responding well. Tourism and export can expand but nothing much is being done since the infrastructure is necessary which will take time. Even solving non performing assets problem of banks has taken years to sort out and private investors are still not investing at present rate. This is hitting manufacturing and setting up of new business. The dip in manufacturing in the last quarter has brought all hopes down although still the country can hope for 7% growth and agriculture might come to the rescue of the economy.

-concluded

Bus Stand

First Passenger: Is there any great example of woman empowerment in Himachal?

Second Passenger: Yes now wives of officials collect graft cash money instead of their husbands!

भारत मैट्रीमोनी पर अपना सही संगी चुनें – निःशुल्क रजिस्टर करें !

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