दृष्टिकोण – Indra's Viewpoint

Every individual as well as every company of the country is waiting for the general elections later this year to give a stable government that can improve business sentiment, the country’s economic growth trajectory. Like many I have some priorities that the new government must ensure and commit. I wish to have a new dispensation,

Who can encourage women and get them empowered with a fifty percent employment in every segment as police woman, drivers and assistants of buses and public transport, postman, machine operator, teacher, and shopkeeper?

Who can get a super speciality hospital in each of 800 district head quarters and a healthcare centre with telemedicine facility in every Panchayats of rural India?

Who can set up a tried school model (Kendriya, Navodaya, Kasturba Gandhi, Sainik) in every Panchayats of rural India? Who will ensure every rural school to have a reading room, a creativity centre, and sports ground? Who can showcase the school complexes of the rural India as temples of learning not merely as teaching centres? Who can bring back the glory of teaching profession? Who can bring the students from India schools competitive enough with China in PISA tests?

Who can develop an education zone in the outskirts of every district headquarters with a number institutions for higher education compatible with the population of the hinterland?

Who can make India a major manufacturing nation with manufacturing contributing at least 25 percent of its GDP? Who can encourage 100 manufacturing companies in public and private sectors to become MNCs with global brands? Who can make a trillion dollar from the export from manufacturing sector? Who can make the public sector companies globally competitive in products as well as size and scale? Who can encourage the Indian companies to export at least 30 percent of its products in world market? Who can make Indian companies to invest significantly in innovation and R&D?

Who can set up a skill centre and a cooperative manufacturing unit, be it for knitting, papad, apparel, handicraft or for even sanitary towels in every Panchayats of rural India?

Who will find an end of encroachment, unauthorised unplanned construction all around the country by providing affordable houses within nicely landscaped areas in all the metros, cities, towns, villages of the country?

Who can bring the end to reservation on caste lines and introduce quota for financially weaker sections, bringing all communities under its ambit? Does the real needy person even among Dalits and Backward Castes get the benefits of reservation?

Who can make India the largest producer of finished metals, such as steel, and aluminium? Who can stop the export of iron ore and get it all converted into the best value added finished products?

Who can stop the export of cotton and make Indian textiles the best in world with focus on value addition from “farm to fibre to fabric to fashion to foreign”?

Who can take the production from farm to a new level of potentials that can feed the nation plus also others hungry in the world? Can an effective programme be implemented to achieve what the McKinsey consultants suggested in ‘Reimagining India’ that is inserted below?
“India that is a global agricultural powerhouse, with exports approaching $164 Billion a year by 2030(compared to $30 billion in 2011)
India with agricultural output of $620 billion by 2030(compared to $270billion in 2011)
India with a food processing GDP of $120billion by 2030(up from $24 billion in 2011)
India where the income of rural citizens rises sixfold and approaches that of those in the cities”

Who can get universalising of solar water pumps for irrigation of farm that is pretty much possible with so small holdings for the most of farmers and get alternative cheap biofuel for tractors with not undue price as for diesel.

Who will plan in outcome units with specific time target rather than just allocation of fund for different projects.

I wish like minded readers add to these wishes that help the country to get back on the track of high growth economy where GDP grows above 10 percent for next 10 years, and in turns higher employment generation and prosperous life for them.

On many a digital media news related webs for almost the whole of fortnight, all the headlines are about AAP. Let me give you one on NDTV.com on January 14, 2013 at 5.45 AM:

@’Janata darbar’ was my idea: Nitish Kumar
@AAP demands probe against Robert Vadra
@Prashant Bhushan press conference disrupted by man shouting ‘traitor’
@Security for Aam Aadmi first, not me: Kejriwal
@Traffic cop apologises after AAP fights for man who was thrashed

Even most of the four of five top video clips are also about AAP.

@After deriding Rahul’s Dalit house calls, Kumar Vishwas does the same
Aam Aadmi Party leader visits Sunita, whose family hosted Rahul Gandhi in 2008.
@Kumar Vishwas challenges Rahul Gandhi to a debate.
@Kejriwal ends janta darbars, says he will go to the people instead.
@Arvind Kejriwal pulls the plug on FDI in retail stores in Delhi.

Is it not too much and perhaps ‘undemocratic’? Many a times it appears media is playing a more than required role in promoting AAP, perhaps because of its TRP value or because a number of media men are already in its key ministerial positions.

Congress is still on back foot, and every news report reveals why it couldn’t move fast on projects that could have pushed up the growth and ended the perceived policy paralysis in the government. Indian Express had an interesting news report:
“As new Environment Minister Veerappa Moily took charge at Paryavaran Bhavan, nearly 350 files were found to have been held back by predecessor Jayanthi Natarajan and her office. Documents accessed by The Indian Express show that as many as 180 of these files, returned from her residence on December 22, 23 and 24, were unsigned. But 119 were signed files which were still held back by the minister for some reason, while another 50 signed ones were retained by her staff. As many as 28 of these went to her in 2012, while two-three date back to 2011.”

Still yesterday night Jayanti Natrajan on a TV show kept on denying the charges against her as Modi had coined and come out with a new word ‘Jayanti Tax’ in his Goa rally on last Sunday.

With all the disgusting news reports mentioned above, I could not continue with the political news. I wanted to find some that can make me happy and hopeful. Here below are some related to manufacturing sector and agriculture that gave me hope as it related to a priority that can only save the country.

“India needs to successfully compete in open international markets. For this, we must build a competitive advantage by improving the quality of our industry and manufacturing sector.” With his record in Gujarat, I am hopeful NaMo understands the role of manufacturing sector for India and shall come out to make the country strong and globally competitive in manufacturing sector that has the potential of large scale employment.

All the big manufacturing companies in India must aim for a revenue of at least 30 percent coming from exports. Some companies are already trying for the same.

“Exports are a major area the company (Bajaj Electricals)wants to explore as customers are ready to pay a premium if it is India-made product. This (fiscal) year we will end with about Rs.45 crore of turnover from exports, which is roughly around 1% (of Rs.453.93 crore total revenue from the Consumer Durables vertical as on 30th September), and will increase it to around Rs.100 crore by next year,” said Anant Bajaj, joint managing director.

And perhaps a thrust on micro and small scale manufacturing will be essential. Manufacturing must reach every household in India with skill training and right governmental encouragement. Traders must assist such enterprises to succeed.

“Micro and small enterprises constitute 95 per cent of total working enterprises. CMSME will help reach out to companies having a turnover of less than Rs 10 crore, including start-ups. Concerted efforts of the private and public sector can provide the impetus to double MSME exports from the present 36 per cent of total exports, and this will ultimately lead to further increase in MSME contribution in industrial output.”

Another success story that has got little attention of media is about agriculture growth. The media must cover it more to encourage the farming community.

“Fortunately, the country has managed to put in place an extensive network of agricultural research organisations which is counted among the best in the world. It comprises nearly 100 ICAR institutes, numerous national and zonal-coordinated research projects and 637 Krishi Vigyan Kendras besides 65 agricultural universities. Interestingly, ICAR has become one of the first government departments to obtain the IS/ISO 9001:2008 quality management certification.”

“Going by the estimates made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the average per-hectare yields of food crops have risen by 19.22 per cent between 2003 and 2013. Among different food crops, rice has witnessed a productivity jump of 14.15 per cent, wheat 15.73 per cent and coarse cereals 13.47 per cent. Maize, which has found new uses in poultry and starch manufacturing sectors, has witnessed a remarkable yield advance of over 21 per cent. The per-hectare output of even oilseeds and pulses has gone up by over nine per cent during this period.”

India’s grain production rose from 218 million tonnes in 2009-10 to 255 million tonnes in 2012-13.

And R&D as well as adoption of technology has played a significant role.

I wish AAP wave or tornado must not derail or slow further the Indian growth vehicles. There is hardly any positive indication in the way AAP is moving.

If one goes by media reports, both digital as well as print, the situation today is pretty confusing. One founder member called for referendum on deployment of security forces in J&K. Arvind disowned and disassociated his party from that view. A minister made a mountain out of mole by announcing stone throwing on her car when it was unintended cricket ball of street children. Another minister came in conflict with his secretary on the subject of calling a meeting of judges. Another minister got involved in another mess when the dead body of a child was found thrown in waste dump.

But then come some good news too.

Rakhi Birla ‘has mooted a proposal to employ around 5,000 women auto drivers at night.’ ‘Several ex-armymen and martial art instructors have been roped in to train women.’ She is further starting with an all-women commando force. Rakhi Birla has been making surprise checks at night ever since she took charge as Delhi’s women and child welfare minister. She is focusing right now to the state of the homeless and night-shelters.

Education minister Manish Sisodia is using volunteers for the inspection of government schools. They’ve been assigned schools and will be submitting their report – covering only infrastructure for the first phase -by January 10.

Arvind, the boss after granting free water and electricity at half cost has also fulfilled his promises to have a call centre for catching the corrupt officers. I am sure the previous government also would have taken similar steps, but it hardly got any media attention. I wish AAP stops taking actions to be on the cover page and from making the subject lucrative enough for prime time debates on news channels.

One thing is sure that AAP that got a lot of backdoor support from BJP during Anna’s movement for Lokpal bill has gone against it openly. The utterances of founder members of AAP, particularly of Prasahant Bhushan and Kumar Viswas, are clear indicators. It may bring some switch over of votes from Congress sympathizers, but certainly is not a good politics. The often repeated wish of becoming martyrs is also hardly prudent. As reported, the nonacceptance of security guards will mean more cost for security to the police authority.

I wish AAP ministers start focusing on and working for improving the administration and for providing efficient and quick services to the people rather on creating news headlines. The people of Delhi wish Delhi to grow as a model world class metro and state that can be emulated by others.

People have a lot of expectations from AAP leaders. Corruption can’t remain the main issue for long if the governance is neglected.

Should not AAP ministers and volunteers work for getting respected by all the government employees, particularly those of schools and healthcare services, not feared? Let the teachers take care of their students and improve their knowledge so that pretty soon they can be sent to participate in PISA. Can there be a day when people start preferring government schools and hospitals over the private ones? If it can happen in developed countries, it must happen in India too.

I shall also wish if AAP goes nationwide only after making Delhi its showpiece. And if it is honest, it can happen in months.

Kejriwal had said- ‘Both BJP and Congress are thieves’. ‘Dr. Harshbardhan is honest man but I can’t say about BJP.’

Arvind could have avoided these statements. It was perhaps meant only for vote. AAP is to go long years without similar branding by someoneelse like Arvind. I beg to tell Arvind that the parties normally are like temples. The priests may be corrupt, but not the temple. Congress had Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Patel, Lal Bahadur, Kamraj and many others from the present lot too including Manmohan Singh who can be icons of the younger generation.Similarly, quite a large number of BJP leaders are honest even without your certificate, and so are many bureaucrats. Integrity of many communist leaders (but not the grassroot cadres) is also exemplary. Examples are Budhhdev Bhattacharya, Manik Sarkar.

Arvind Kejriwal anwering, “Who is an aam aadmi?” said, “AAP believes that the middle class is part of the aam aadmi, anyone who is tired of this corrupt system is aam aadmi.” I can’t agree to this definition. For most of us, Aam Aadami is that maid working in middle-class homes, washer man who cleans the clothes and even cars in NCR, the person who delivers newspaper, vegetable sellers and so many other persons who fight every day to earn the living of the family. I enquired some of them. They don’t have the ration cards and so can’t be the beneficiaries of even the new food security bill.They find it almost impossible to have one. They buy gas in black for their small gas cylinder at enormous cost. Will Arvind make his officers and his volunteers to see that every one in Delhi gets his ration card and Adhar number through a drive similar to polio plus.

Arvind gave a lot of publicity for his travel by Metro and by his Wagon R car. It appeared that he would operate from his flat. It reminds me of Mamta’s Santro and cycle of Manik Sarkar. Mamta still lives in her own house and Budhhdev attended office from his flat. Even Harshbardhan would have operated from his own house.

According to Kejriwal, “Delhi’s aam aadmi has taken the lead in telling the country as to which direction the national politics should go.” This is very correct. All selecting to get into politics must take lessons from Arvind’s success. Destiny helps only those who can plan, strategise, and remain ready to change.

It is good that AAP ministers are getting Innova and Kejriwal has decided to move to a spacious accommodation near his office. Ministers’ cars will not have beacon on it, though their branded white topi will work better than becon. Why should Arvind keep on vacillating on these decisions because of the criticism of opposition and media? He now is looking for a smaller flat.

However, I shall request Arvind to persuade Rakhi to switch over to her actual surname rather than sticking to Birla. It is confusing. Some Birlas may file a legal suite against her.

One more wish: Besides getting Lokayukt Bill through in the assembly, Arvind must implement the Citizens’ Charter. As clear from an article by Dipankar Gupta in Times of India today, ‘in large measure, such an institution is already in place in Punjab where citizens are assured of nearly 150 services within a pre-determined, but generous, time frame. Consequently, delivery failures entail hefty fines backed by departmental enquiries.’

And then few advice of an elder: Keep yourself fit and run the administration with exemplary efficiency. If you can make Delhi an example of good governance, that can be emulated by others. Delhi is not a big state. You can do that. Use your huge followings in NRIs, Corporate India, and younger generation for educating all and providing employment to make their life better. The whole country is looking at you and your actions.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/arvind-kejriwal-s-speech-displays-the-vocabulary-that-brought-aap-to-power-466240?pfrom=home-otherstories

Media is full of reports about the new hero on the stage of Indian politics. It all started with corruptions all around, particularly in the politicians and bureaucrats or government officers. I wish the society gets rid of this DNA fault prevalent widely and deeply. As one ordinary thinker, I would have liked AAP using its huge (3,00,000) and growing bulk of intelligent volunteers to find if any one in their own households is following corrupt practices and try to correct him.

Sorry that was not the subject of this writing. I am still worried about the manufacturing sector of the country and its potentials that can bring laughter on the faces of 60 percent of aam aadami. India’s manufacturing sector must get its necessary priority of all- politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists big and small, new and experienced entrepreneurs, and the young generation seeking online cosy jobs after the graduations even from IITs and IIMs.

Some are again taking solace that even in China, the manufacturing is slowing. But let these people understand that a little slowing for China hardly matters because of the level that it already has attained. India must look around. There is focus on and so improvement in manufacturing sector all around. Even US is focusing and regaining its manufacturing strength. “Markit’s U.S. manufacturing index rose to 55 in December from a final reading of 54.7 in November, above the 50 threshold that indicates growth. Markit’s euro zone manufacturing PMI rose to 52.7 in December from 51.6 in November.”

Present government in its two terms started well with setting up of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council under former Maruti CEO, VK Krishnamurty and then came out with an excellent National Manufacturing Policy. However, as in many other areas, it hardly focused on getting the policies for improving manufacturing sector implemented. The contribution of manufacturing to GDP has hardly improved, nor has improved the employment.

The country will expect the next government and all state governments to commit and focus on expanding the manufacturing right up to every village and its households. The country that has indigenously built nuclear plants, satellites, sophisticated missiles, satellites and successfully launched Chandrayaan and Manglayaan, does not lack the talent that is required to make India one of the top manufacturing power, if the government supports its seriously.

Let me first wish a great success for Arvind Kejriwal when he, as chief minister forms government of Delhi state.

I was surprised to read, ‘seven reasons why Arvind Kejriwal is not incompetent’. Two of the reasons mentioned in the list relate to being his IITian and a mechanical engineer by qualification.

I am a little sceptical about Arvind on one count. Will Arvind continue in politics and that too in running of the government? Can one fine morning very soon, Arvind announce his wish to leave politics to try something else, say to become a farmer?

Arvind’s career analysis after his passing out from IIT reveals pretty interesting things that forced me to make this remark. Arvind has kept on moving from one field to other.

First, Arvind went for mechanical engineering, perhaps, because his parents wished or suggested that. Like many, Arvind didn’t perhaps, possess any aptitude for mechanical engineering. Arvind joined Tata Steel, the company that many loved to work for and test oneself by getting ahead with technical strength and managerial aptitude. Arvind had whole lot of opportunity to go right up to that world class organisation. However, Arvind used his few years in Tata Steel for preparing for Civil Service Examination rather than learning the tricks of steel making and the intricacies of management. I don’t understand what was his reason to go for UPCS examination. Was it for the opportunity to serve the people at large better or to enjoy life with the perks that it provided officially and for many times unofficially too? Was it again some mentor who pushed or persuaded him to do that, as many do in this country.?

Arvind did succeed in the examination but his rank was only good enough to get into Indian revenue services. Arvind joined. Arvind could have made a difference in Income tax administration too. As deputy commissioner Arvind could have created some model that would have brought a name for him and his department, but again he left it for further education.

As I understand Arvind worked with Aruna Ray for some time, earned a name in getting RTI act passed. But then Arvind again switched to Anna’s movement for Lokpal. Arvind was the main actor in managing everything of Anna Show in Delhi to get an unprecedented success. But the came the differences in Anna team. Anna did not support Arvind’s plan to form a party and fight election. As Santosh Hegde, Kiran Bedi also parted away.

But then riding on the wave of protests created during Anna and Nirvaya protest of younger generations, Arvind did surprise even his own party men and the whole country by winning 28 assembly seats. It was something unprecedented and similar to the anger shown by the people of the country under the leadership of Jai Prakash Narayan after the emergency years of 1977 by bringing first time a non- Congress government in India.

Perhaps based on Arvind’s model of involving the mass in taking his decision, AAP will form the next government in Delhi state. Now comes the challenge in providing effective governance. I wish it does not prove to be ‘rocket science’ as Arvind stated recently.

I wish Arvind proves himself a great leader and applies something that he has promised by innovating some unprecedented approach in getting the electricity rate by half and in providing 700 litres of water for each household. With all my experiences of these years, I can say, it is very much possible with technology and involvement of the vendors. Arvind must take the assistance of the best minds in the country.

Arvind must go for setting up the 500 schools that he has promised, but simultaneously he must engage all his qualified members and volunteers to improve the existing government and private schools, serving the shanties and jhuggies where most of the people below the poverty line live.

Along with regularising the unauthorised colonies, Arvind must involve all his contacts to make the residents responsible too for sanitation and cleanliness.

I have some requests. Shun arrogance and statement that hurts anyone even the worst person in opposition. Advise your close followers too for the same, particularly while talking to media. Keep yourself fit as there are many miles to go. Please depend on your close associates and have an agreed code of conduct for all your members. Succeed as the whole country is anxiously watching your every actions with a lot of hope.

I wish you would made the offer of the throne to someone else and guided the party, but perhaps you don’t want to take that risk. Afterall, Bapu, JP, or even Anna became great leaders without holding any power.

With love, and wishing the best of your senior
—
Note:
The 18 things that Arvind will like to do when he becomes CM:
1. Stop the VIP culture Delhi. No MLA, minister or Delhi official will use a red beacon on their cars. No big bungalows nor any special security for them.
2. Passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare version.
3. People to take decision directly in ‘mohalla sabhas’, held in every locality and colony.
4. Complete statehood status for Delhi with no Central government’s hold on DDA and Police.
5. A special audit of all electricity companies in the national capital from the time these were privatised. Cancel licenses if the company refuse to comply.
6. Check Electricity meters.
7. Make 220 litres of water available for every person daily.
8. Regularise unauthorised colonies.
9. Give clean and affordable ‘pakka houses’ (built up houses) to those living in slums.
10. Give regular jobs to those working on contractual basis.
11. Infrastructural facilities like roads, electricity, water and basic facilities to the ordinary trader.
12. No FDI in retail.
13. Provide facilities and subsidies to farmers in the villages in the national capital.
14. Opening 500 government schools, stop donations in private schools and make the fee system transparent.
15. Open new government hospitals with better facilities.
16. Have special security units for women and tackle all harassment cases within three months.
17. Enough courts and appoint judges so that all cases are dealt with within six months.
18. Ensure the support of the municipal corporations of Delhi.

I adored Arvind Kejriwal when I came to know that he is from my own institute-IIT, Kharagpur and that he also graduated in mechanical engineering. My excitement further increased when Rakesh, my eldest son in US informed during his phone conversation that Arvind was from his own batch. Rakesh had done graduation in manufacturing science that was part of mechanical engineering department. I visited IIT quite often, when Rakesh got into it. I was also external examiner for postgraduate students in manufacturing engineering. I had addressed once the students and faculty of the mechanical engineering department on my pet subject in those days: ‘Re-engineering of engineering education’.

I had come to know of another aspect of Arvind Kejriwal pretty late, when he became activist, particularly because of his contribution in the right of information movement. I kept on reading about him now and then in media. Naturally, Arvind came in great limelight for organising the successful show of Anna’s fast in Delhi for getting Jan Lokpal Bill accepted by the government. And it was evident that Arvind managed the fast very well and made it a movement of one and all of the educated population of Delhi.

However, I didn’t like the way they got into the business of drafting of the bill sitting across with some ministers. That would not have been the way to get something like Lokpal in the system. Bill drafting would have followed the usual practice and Anna and Arvind could have got their ideas incorporated in that.

I felt bad when Arvind parted way out from Anna, and went to form a political party, AAP. Arvind naturally put his best in campaign. He came out with the stories of corruption of Robert Vadera, the son-in-law of Sonia and Gadkari. He organised the party well. I loved his idea of constituency-wise manifesto that would make the elected member committed to get them implemented. I don’t know if he took the feedback of the people of those constituencies to prepare it.

The win of AAP in recent assembly election in Delhi has made him legendary. But Kejriwal didn’t shun abusing both the national parties publicly. Arvind would have been more humble and have been using words cautiously. He would have been different at least in using arrogant and abusive words.

Arvind doesn’t like to form government nor he would support the other parties. This again in present political scene is anti democratic. But more amusing and childlike were his 18 demands that appeared in media.

I certainly wish him to succeed. His failure to come up to the national politics will hurt me, and perhaps many. But he must access his own strength. Till now not many responsible and able persons seem to be with him.

But I shall certainly like to give one advice to him. Arvind must focus on Delhi and prove himself. Let his party men and particularly elected ones, start working in the schools and healthcare centres of their constituencies and for educating the grassroots for sanitation. Let them be the NGOs helping the citizens to get their due rights from the present administration and also own the individual responsibility to the the community.

And finally Arvind must not play a spoiler such as Nitish Kumar and Lalu or Mulayam under the garb of secularism in the political change that many are expecting to come in 2014. Arvind must also protect his party from those regional leaders who may use AAP brand to create chaos.

I am amazed to see the young smart faces in crowd, almost all speaking in good English to the reporters, some quoting even Kama Shutra, protesting against the SC judgement. Are they right activists or the gay themselves? Is it a development imported from the west like so many others by the English speaking so called modern and advanced class, well supported by English media? I never knew the real meaning of the word before this movement. I know many have differing personal secrets. Why can’t it remain personal and private?

It is not only the politicians but other vested interests also are trying to make the gay issue important. As one example, look at the Indian tour operators who are crying about their attempt to grab a slice of the world’s estimated $5-billion “gay tourism” market, getting affected, as if there is no potential tourists left among the rest of the population.

Government and Congress with very quick response from Sonia as well as Rahul are on overdrive to scrap SC ruling on gay sex rights. Perhaps, it aims at diverting the minds of people from the recent loss at its opposition’s hand.

I don’t understand why so many urgent issues of the country is not getting the similar attention of the government, Congress and other political parties that really deserve to be given the topmost attention. Our economy is in shambles. The country is hardly any more attractive for investment by the domestic or foreign players. The inflation is causing more and more problems for the destitute and poor.

Why does not Sonia call for a national consensus on some economic reforms that can pull out the country from the present condition. How long we go on giving the excuses of global downtrend or democratic system of the country for not growing fast enough or for not meeting the basic human development parameters?

Should not the illegal outflow of nearly one third of the Government of India’s total budgeted expenditure in 2011 of Rs.13 lakh crore, be more important concern on which the people and their leaders from different fields focus?

Should not the allegation, that MPs from Congress, BJP, BSP, Janata Dal United (JD-U) and AIADMK on videotape were willing to write letters of recommendation for a fictitious Australian oil and gas exploration company for cash payment ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 50 lakh, be a matter of greater concern?

I wish the young generation that demonstrated its unique capability in winning Delhi for AAP tries to understand the real national issues and its priority.