Campaign posters and pamphlets of political parties, ads in the newspapers and in the digital world, all are saying it out loud that our country will become the ‘New India’ by 2022.
But how will that happen?
In 2022, India will complete 75 years of independence. How will the campaign of ‘New India’, which the BJP is running to secure its future for 2022, be executed on the ground? How strong are the parameters that are needed to make a 'New India'?
- What is the situation of employment in the country and what course is it taking?
- How can farmers’ conditions improve and their income doubled by 2022?
- What's the progress of the ‘Make In India’ campaign?
- Has ‘Swachh Bharat’ really been able to ensure a cleaner India?
- What is the condition of exports and imports of the country?
- What are the visions of this 'New India’ for Dalits, the oppressed, and the victims of various social evils?
Employment Opportunities in India
A recent government report of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) reveals that the current state of employment is the worst in the last 45 years. It is said that because the report makes the government nervous, it is trying to hide it.
According to the report, the rate of unemployment in 2017-2018 was 6.1%. Labour participation rate has also been low. Which means that those few people who are applying for jobs are also not getting any. There is also no sign that this situation will improve by 2022. If there was any, then lakhs of students wouldn’t have been rigging the SSC examination, or they wouldn’t have been protesting over issues related to their results, admit cards or for their joining letters.
Cleanliness and Environmental Issues
Let's take a look at the next parameter, exploring factors such as ‘Swachh Bharat’, environment and pollution. These issues remind us of some of the recent headlines. After reading them, the possibility of a ‘New India’ seems far-fetched. A headline, for instance, reads that out of the world's 30 most polluted cities, 22 are from India. The question of how this monster will be countered still needs to be answered.
Quality of Healthcare
According to a study published in the medical journal Lancet in May 2018 in terms of access and quality of healthcare services, India is ranked 145th in the list of 195 countries.
Another study called ‘Global Burden of Disease’ reports that on the healthcare access and quality (HAQ) index, India is still far behind its neighbouring countries like China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The previous government also battled with the same issue.
Before 2022, we must hold those accountable who make us hopeful with tall promises but don’t fulfil them.
The ‘Make in India’ Initiative
Under ‘Make in India’, we were assured that big foreign companies will manufacture products in India. But the rhetoric is different from reality.
The growth rate of FDI in the year 2017-18 is only 3% which is the lowest FDI growth rate in the last 5 years. Twenty five sectors were selected under 'Make in India' but foreign investors weren't excited about these sectors. This makes it apparent that the trust of foreign investors on Indian market could not have been strengthened because they don't understand tall promises the way normal voters do. Instead, they need confidence that their investment will yield returns.
The Falling Indian Exports
If we were manufacturing goods under ‘Make in India’ we would have been able to export them too. And this way the country could have made profits, which could have benefited ’New India’. But exports have only slowed down under PM Modi’s tenure.
It could not touch the record of $313 billion in 2013-14 even once. Now, how can this growth rate increase overnight? And which government schemes will make that happen? All this is not known.
‘New India’ will need those who feed the country. Without strengthening the farmers, who feel that they are away from the mainstream, dreaming of a 'New India' is not possible.
Agrarian Distress
This government had claimed it will double the income of farmers by 2022. Fours years have passed already, and the government is repeating the same promises. Since 2014, the incomes of most of the people living in the villages have not increased.
Dalit, SC/ST Anger Against Government
How these issues will be addressed overnight is not clear. The evidence of this agrarian crises is before you. Have you ever seen so many peasant movements before this? From Maharashtra in the west, Tamil Nadu in the south to Madhya Pradesh in central India, news of farmers' movements have been making headlines.
One thing can be said clearly for this government that in the past 4 years, there have been many instances in which Dalits’ and tribals' displeasure was seen. Many SC-ST organisations called for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on 2 April 2018. In the protests, many lives were lost as well. Yet, the protests didn’t stop.
Now if the government is using the campaign of ‘New India’ as their key election slogan, they must realise that it wont be fulfilled if they don’t take Dalits along.
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