दृष्टिकोण – Indra's Viewpoint

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.

AAP must be a nationally accountable and responsible party, if it wishes to be a party with difference with sole vision of serving the common people. AAP must also be more democratic and inclusive in real sense.

The differing statements on formation of government in Delhi made by Prashant Bhushan and Kejriwal is confusing and may make Kejriwal look authoritarian to the people pretty soon.

Kejriwal on one hand, appeals to good people of all organisations to join his party, on the other hand he is not ready to take support of eight MLAs of Congress Party. If he is a strong leader, he must accept them and be able to change those eight individuals as true followers of his philosophy and policies. These eight individuals are hardly interested in Congress and its policies. They are just people leaders who have won on their own merits.

If Kejriwal wishes to be a political force, he will have to be realistic and decisive. He will have to be ready to join coalition. He must be confident enough to change the mindset of the MLAs or the political party who wish to join him or whom he joins. Further, Kejriwal and his colleagues must show their administrative capability. People want to see that. When he is not ready to support BJP or accept Congress support to form government, he is not showing the responsibility that the people of Delhi wish him to take. Further, has he taken a feedback from those who voted about his decision to not form government with support from the two major national parties?

On national level, Kejriwal must not confuse the younger generation, if he is not sure of winning outright majority in parliament and if he is not ready to take part in a coalition government. Let him also understand that many of his voters were to vote for BJP. And he should not be so sure that the reelection will make him win with clean sweep. Voters of the country are very much unpredictable. His own leaders were not sure about the numbers of winning candidates even a day before the result.

Indian manufacturing is at its lowest point in the last 10 years, but top executives think its long-term prospects are robust, according to a report released by lobby group Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG).The share of manufacturing in the gross domestic product was 15.1% in the 2013 fiscal year, the lowest in a decade. The UPA government had started well with setting up of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, and the last year came out its manufacturing policy with many good ideas to boost manufacturing sector. However, it didn’t pursue it the way it would have been done.One hardly notice any significant trends that can make this country a manufacturing power. India is far behind in manufacturing even in comparison with countries such as Thailand and Malaysia.

However, 70% of top executives surveyed by BCG still expect manufacturing to grow faster in the next five years as compared with the last five. Companies are also more confident about exports. There has been a 16% increase in exports compared to 2012, adds the report, titled ‘Powering Past Headwinds- Indian Manufacturing: Winning in an era of Shocks, Swings and Shortages’. The country targets to achieve its export target of $325 billion in the current financial year.

It is good that in the present slowdown, many companies are initiating strategies to export. As a good balancing practice, 30 percent of revenue should come from export.Some companies are on the way to do that. For example, more than two-fifths of Crompton Greaves’ consolidated sales come from the international business.

MNCs in India are also gradually realising the need of making India its export base. US-based auto maker Ford Motor is looking to make India its global manufacturing hub for small cars and low displacement engines. Ford India will export to 50 countries from the present 37 once the Sanand facility is ready. Ford is investing $1 billion at Sanand in Gujarat.

Swedish commercial vehicle giant Volvo plans to sell Eicher-branded trucks across various markets in south-east Asia and Africa using its sales network and has made India a global hub for sourcing medium-duty engines for trucks and buses. Volkswagen India is also exporting Ventos to Mexico.

Renault exported 6,358 units of its compact SUVs Duster to eight countries between April and September, and Ford exported 4,500 EcoSport units, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).

Even small Indian companies are getting into global market through acquisition route. In the year 2008, Symphony Ltd acquired Mexico based Impco Air Coolers, a cooler manufacturing company that patented the cooling technology called ‘evaporative cooling’ and one of the largest global manufacturers of industrial and commercial air coolers.

Some foreign manufacturing companies are also setting up or expanding their manufacturing facilities in India.

Shanghai Hitachi, a JV between China-based Highly Group and Japanese firm Hitachi AP, leading air-conditioner (AC) compressor manufacturers commissioned India’s largest air-conditioning compressor plant in Ahmedabad which has been set up at an investment of $72 million (Rs 450 crore).

American conglomerate General Electric Company (GE) is planning to make India a manufacturing hub, “but for the world.” India can be the best manufacturing destination in the world, especially in hitech items like aviation, gas and steam turbines. GE is setting up a manufacturing facility at Chakan near Pune with an investment of $200 million. The plant will locally manufacture a host of different aviation and turbo machinery components and wind turbines.

The Auto component industry has a lot of potential to expand its exports. It must diversify and focus on high value added items such as electronics component. Exports in 2012-13 were at $10 billion while imports were higher at around $13 billion. However, almost 80 per cent of the exports was to the global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The companies in auto components are working hard for keeping itself competitive and building its basic strengths. Rane Brake Lining Ltd won the Deming Grand Prize 2013, the highest award in Total Quality Management. Seven from India to have won this prize.

One can easily see the future of manufacturing sector improving significantly with the Industrial Corridors such the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor that is already under implementation. A proposal to set up the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor is also under consideration.

The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) “plans” to develop seven greenfield future cities in six states and integrate them with the Indian Railways’ dedicated freight corridor. By 2017, the 1,483-km dedicated freight corridor is expected to transport goods from the north to the ports on the western coast within 12-13 hours, a task which currently takes 12-13 days.

Bajaj Auto and Hero Motocorp are examples of success of Indian manufacturing sector. They keep on surprising the market with new policies and products.

The world’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero Motocorp shocked the market by announcing a five-year warranty across its motorcycles/scooters purchase (five years or 70,000 km in case of motorcycles and five years or 50,000 km for scooters) against the norm of offering a year or two of warranty on a two-wheeler. Rajiv Bajaj has kept Bajaj Auto on right track with blessings from his father legendary Rahul Bajaj.

While the launch of Manglayan and its successful progress towards Mars has been a moment of pride for India, it also tells a story of the strength of India’s manufacturing sector. A number of private and public manufacturing companies provided its parts.

Pune based Walchandnagar Industries Ltd (WIL) had manufactured the rocket motor casings and nozzles for the 44.4 meter Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) that carried the spacecraft Mangalyaan into the space. Many other critical components and hardware, nozzles as well as PS0XL motor cases were also manufactured at WIL.

A new generation of manufacturing companies creates hope in the future of manufacturing sector.
NTL is today the largest maker of electronic drivers and ballasts that run modern lights. It has around 5,000 employees. NTL also contract manufactures CFLs for Indian lighting brands.

Some Indian mobile phone manufacturers are working on the business model of Apple of US. Micromax is one that one day may be a top player for Indian consumers.

Interestingly, some Indian manufacturing companies are trying to get into China too.

CRI Pumps would manufacture and also market its select range of products in China and aim for a considerable market share backed by its strong manufacturing and advanced technology. CRI is the first pump manufacturer from India to have its 100% wholly owned subsidiary company in China intended for manufacturing and marketing specific products. CRI will manufacture few select ranges of High end energy efficient pumps in its China Facility.

And one can and must really appreciate the amount of wealth that comes to even poor due to industrialisation and manufacturing that creates employment.

Manufacturing must be the main stay of the country’s growth.

Finally, Indian manufacturers must appreciate the necessity of innovations and invest prudently for it. That only can make it compete with global players effectively.

I wrote in one of the earlier entries how I could lay hand on only a small note book the Anand’s house in Cary, NC that had a tag of ‘Made in India’. While in Austin, one day during my morning walk I discovered a good number of manhole covers that have been sourced from India with ‘Made in India’ tag.

I saw a number of paintings and furniture items coming to to the house of Rajesh. Both have developed good tastes for decorating the residence. Rajesh surprisingly, revealed that one set of side tables are having ‘Made in India’ tags. ( on the left side of the photograph below, the stool, the two steel side stands)

And while writing this, I came another item with a ‘Made in India’ tag. The cover shown below of an Yamaha flute bears the tag of ‘Made in India’ for the cover.

Wherever I have gone for shopping with Anand in Cary or with Rajesh in Austin, or earlier in New York or places in California earlier, be it big retail shops of Walmart, Target, Macy’s or the seasonal shops selling items for Halloween, or outlets of Home Depot or Bath, Bed and Beyond, I find the overwhelming presence of household products sourced not only from China but also from many developing countries including Southeast Asian countries and South American or African countries. The presence of ‘Made in India’ has been just rare. Why are Indian manufacturers so visibly absent from American market?

Though only few in India dares to enter in manufacturing enterprises, but there are exceptions too. Many have succeeded in making a breakthrough.Mithun Chittilappilly had taken V-Guard Industries, an electrical appliances manufacturing company founded by his father Kochouseph Chittilappilly in 1977, to a new height.

Some though small have gone even global. Even big business houses are diversifying in high tech manufacturing and even in defence production, though the PSUs such as HAL are not gearing itself to its user requirements.

It is really interesting read a news report. “Several containers of packaged food products carrying imported chocolates, crispies, gourmet cheese, olive oil, biscuits, noodles, pasta, jams, honey, oats and sauces, etc, have been recently blocked at various ports and airports across the country, in the absence of a clearance from FSSAI. About 50-55 per cent of packaged food imports in India happen during the festive season, since it is utilised mainly for gifting, apart from consumption.Government sources indicate packaged foods worth Rs 750-1,000 crore was stuck at various ports and airports across the country.” With a critical CAD (Current Account Deficit), are such imports justified? Unfortunately, in the name of free market the government has become so liberal for importing almost everything and has forgotten the old policy of phased local manufacturing policy that the Chinese pursued to get into manufacturing sector in big way.

Let India take lessons from Germany and Japan and focus on the manufacturing sector rather than emulating wrongly England and US:
“Germany possesses a strong and well-developed mechanical-engineering industry with a solid tradition and foundation and enjoys a leading status in technology development, again with strong support from the government.”

India needs more and more industrialists and entrepreneurs of the breed of Brijmohan Lall Munjal and Anand Mahindra.