Tarun Chugh
Our state Punjab is known as the sword and the bread-basket of our country, India. Punjabis have been in the fore front in defending the nation from any foreign invasions and also been the bread-earner of India. However, over the past few years, Punjab has seen many problems which are the results of poor government and a bad administration. Ironically, these pressing problems are man-made and are the results of apathy and lack of will on the part of political dispensation instead of socio-cultural factors. The land of the Gurus and Panj-Aabs (land between rivers) is going through difficult and tough times. Economic-growth is in shatters, unemployment is sky-high, agrarian sector is in doldrums; farmers are committing suicides and are under the burden of debt-traps., state is under huge debts and has hardly any source of capital-expenditure. The root cause of these problems is sluggish economic-development which is giving rise to many accompanying problems. The other major problem spreading its tentacles and choking the populace particularly the youth of Punjab is drug-trafficking which needs immediate solution.
For addressing these problems we must have a vision of Punjab which should work as a goal to be achieved by the use of collective efforts of people of Punjab and government in Punjab. Sadly, till date no political party has come up with any Punjab-Vision as to what are the goals of government and what are specific steps i.e. strategy to be taken to achieve those goals.
Nava Punjab: It is a vision to create a new Punjab. What kind of Punjab we want to make or create? Nava Punjab envisages reviving the real Punjab where prosperity, peace and cultural-vibrancy are at its best. Where there is economic prosperity which is spread over people instead of being in few hands. Let our economy and agriculture lead to sustainable methods of agriculture and living. Let Punjab be a leading industrial hub of the country. Let our Punjab regain its number 1 spot in economic indicators such as per capita income which it had for more than 15 years. Let there be employment and enough job-opportunities that no person has to settle at foreign lands in search of employments. Let our soil and agriculture be free from pesticides and harmful fertilisers. Let Punjab be free from drug abuse. Let Punjab be free from pollution.
Goals of development for Punjab should aim at economic development with development ethos become a mass movement and culture where every Punjabi should participate and the benefits of this development should trickle down to everyone. It should aim not only at raising the standard of living but the standard of life. Development should be egalitarian which should ensure all the three regions of Malwa, Doaba and Majha and should include all the sectors viz, Agriculture, Industry and service sector. It should include all the classes, people and zones. The policy of government should aim at promoting innovation, creativity and efficiency. Further, the aim of economic-development should not be just getting economic benefits but should also aim at sustainable development where the resources of the state -human or economic is so used as not to compromise their benefits for the future generations.
For the above Economic vision, the practical and concrete steps could be:
* To increase the per capita income of the farmers and aim at doubling the per capita income with 2021-22 as the base in 5 years.
* In agriculture, a culture of ‘agripreneurs’ may be developed where farmers will use innovative methods and best practices world over to revive the agrarian sector.
* To take effective steps to diversify the crop pattern and encourage cash-crops, fruit crops, floriculture, dairy farming, poultry, piggery and fish farming.
* To develop industrial hubs in various regions. Stress must be focused on agro-industries and small industries.
* Punjab has an IIT and IIM. To attach IIM and IIT and management and various institutes of technologies with the industries of Punjab so as to develop best practices.
* Punjab has a huge untapped potential for tourism. To develop tourism hubs and to promote the culture of home stay. There are unexplored tourism spots in Punjab which will be developed as eco-tourism spots like Doldbha in Hoshiarpur, Harike Pattan etc,. Punjab has a well knit network of canals. To develop canal-tourism on the model of European counties.
* To have Pucca Road connecting all the villages of Punjab.
* To develop IT and service based cities like Haryana developed Gurgaon.
* To Ensure 24 by 7 electricity to farmers and industry.
* Ensure 100% electrification of all households.
* Improve in Ease of Doing Business for Punjab.
* Improve the share of industry in Punjab’s economy.
* The major exports of Punjab are of manufacturing of wearing apparel and textiles (53.% share), machinery and equipment (15%), food products (13.1%) and motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (6.5% share) of Punjab’s manufacturing exports. To export agriculture products and increase their share in Punjab’s export basket
* The skill development is another important area. Education curriculum is developed to ensure basic skills which can result in growth in labour productivity.
(The author is BJP National General Secretary)
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