Saturday, January 26, 2008

India @59 - Hope and Despair

We would be 59 year old republic tomorrow, and I think we have come a long way over last 60+ years of independence. From the initial euphoria of Independence, to economic, food and military crisis of 60's and 70's, to some period of stability of mid 80's, and then venturing on a completely new path starting 91, India has been through quite a journey.

Today we have become one of the fastest growing economies, and an envy of the world. But beneath these numbers and glitzy malls tension is slowly building up in masses who are left untouched by this growth. While private sector is growing rapidly (wherever its allowed to function with minimal interference), the sectors that require government support the most, such as healthcare, infrastructure, education, speedy resolution of legal issues, support in fighting against the land sharks in name of SEZ's etc, are either falling behind, or fast loosing public confidence.

The contrast is evident everywhere, and nowhere more so than Gurgaon which is fast becoming BPO capital of the country. On one hand we have New Gurgaon with high-rises where people shell out extra money for electricity generators for 24x7 electricity supply, and on the other hand we have old-Gurgaon, which is largely dependent upon electricity supplied by Government controlled distribution system, and which typically goes without power for atleast 10 hours a day. We have people who can get themselves treated at Apollo Hospital by shelling big bucks, and then we have people who depend on government run hospitals, which are nothing but a sham in name of health care. Situation in villages or towns of other states is even worse.

Why is it like this? Why is certain part of India growing so rapidly, and why is other India being left behind? Answer is simple - while Indian enterprises after being unshackled from regulatory framework have started to find their feet in new global system, there is no pressure on Government, or civil services to improve. There is no pressure because the ones who are affected the most due to government inefficiencies are not united, and do not put pressure on government to improve. They are not united because they have been divided along the lines of caste, and religion by opportunistic politicians - a trend which is growing with emergence of even larger number of regional parties.

If we continue to ignore majority of our population, and if they don't get their due share in the growth pie, then one day the masses would rise and pull rest of India down with them (essentially what naxalites are doing in certain pockets these days - which I very much doubt can be solved by gun as our PM has suggested).

We need to shake things from the top to bring about any significant change - strengthen national parties who have clearly defined agenda of growth and not of divisive politics, select powerful prime-minister (and not merely a rubber stamp), make Government (ministers, civil servants) accountable to people (RTI act being one positive step in that direction).

I know all this sounds too Utopian, but I am sure even independent India would have sounded Utopian 100 years ago!

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