Dr. Aruna Sharma Column – Becoming a big economy is not enough, there are more challenges. Dr Aruna Sharma’s Column: Becoming a big economy is not enough, there are more challenges Achi-News

Aruna Sharma Development Economist Practitioner and former Secretary in the Ministry of Steel

This year, along with the Lok Sabha elections in India, the assembly elections will also be held in some states. But the last few years have seen a trend of rapid rejection by elected representatives. There are also questions about whether or not it follows the party’s manifesto.

Is it possible that, due to the negligence of public representatives, this important document has become irrelevant? There are more cases of crossover happening before and after voting. In such a situation, the time has come for citizens to obtain a charter of demand, which must be completed within the specified time frame. There was a lot of experimentation in coming up with new designs. These are presented as old wine in a new bottle, while the concerns of hunger, poverty, unemployment continue as before.

First of all, social security schemes are a matter of human rights, they are not public welfare schemes that the government forces the public to follow. These include PF, healthcare and guaranteed good education to the unorganized sector.

There is also an education ‘orth’ on every liter of fuel bought by citizens. That amount is used to provide the best infrastructure and good teachers at affordable rates to schools in all areas. Remember that providing quality affordable health and education is a fundamental responsibility of the government and cannot be left to the private sector.

Secondly, food security is not just distributing food grains through the public distribution system but also ensuring cookery education to preserve nutrients apart from providing mid-day meals, food production and supplementary feeding.

It is necessary to work in missionary mode to overcome the problem of malnutrition and hunger in the next five years. At the same time, census and other surveys are also needed, so that all states have a common database of households.

With its help, a ‘holistic’ model can be implemented by securing real-time data on health and poverty status, education, housing, sanitation, access to financial institutions, credit monitoring and development. ‘Samagra’ will not only ensure better delivery of grants but will also provide PF, insurance, and treatment facilities. A common database greatly reduces the scope for error.

It is important to have a regular flow of sustainable employment generation in agriculture and MSMEs. The skill based courses are to be implemented through Krishi Kalyan Kendras and MSMEs at government supported cost.

Gender inclusion in paid jobs should also be based on merit, although it is necessary to ensure quality care for children, special facilities such as maternity benefits. Industrial development is the engine of growth, but it must be environmentally responsible. The industry needs to be encouraged through capital investment, FDA and bank loans from industrialists.

In fact each field has its own importance. Take the example of food processing, which needs centralisation. The importance of infrastructure is also no less in terms of financial inclusion, net connectivity, road connectivity. Be it post offices, cooperative banks, small banks or banks, it is necessary for everyone to have physical financial institutions.

Digital payments have had great success in the last decade and a half and now no government payment is made by check or cash. Yet there is a need to ensure access to easy loans, savings, deposits, insurance and other financial products such as prudential funds. Net connectivity is improving but needs to be accelerated. Good quality roads are very important.

Achieving the target of a 5 trillion dollar economy depends on time. But the test of governance of a large economy is how inclusive it is. India’s inclusive development cannot be based on the size of its economy alone.

The youth need permanent jobs, ensuring better education and nutrition as well as maintaining peace and security in the country of central importance. Our focus should not be diverted from these goals.

Social security is a matter of human rights. This is not the kind of public welfare scheme that the government forces on the public through. The basic responsibility of the government is to provide affordable and quality health and education to the people.

(This is the author’s own opinion.)