Harsha Kakar
Any new Government elected to power in a state comes with a promise of improving the economy, creating industry and providing avenues for employment. Governments have gone through the portals of each State, with a variety of promises for developmentbut hardly delivered. This disappointment invariably leads to an anti-incumbency factor and the party in power is pushed aside. Only the party which delivers development continues to return to power in greater strength.
Each time a new Government comes in; people have hopes for a change. No human being desires to be unemployed, no matter what the provocation or reason. It is only post-employment that any individualcan fulfil his ambitions and material desires as well as educate his next generation. Unemployment is an illness which causes an individual to be easily instigated against the establishment as also motivated to join anti- national or anti- social activities only to be able to earn a livelihood or to remove his frustration of being unemployed.
Thus those against pursuing development and industry and seeking status quo are individuals or groups who do not want employment for their population but need to exploit them for their own selfish purposes. The frustration of the youth in this state is to a large extent a manifestation of their anger against non-development leading to unemployment. This anger and frustration is exploited by a few using either religion or apathy of the Government as a motive or cause.
In some States, positive changes have been remarkable; development and industry have grown hand in hand resulting in a betterlife for its citizens. This in turn has enhanced revenue thus enabling the State to provide better services for its populace. This could only happen when the leaders in power had a vision for development, created an environment of growth and encouraged industrialists to invest.
In some states the situation has spiralled in reverse;existing industries closed down, thus reversing the growth cycle and increasing unemployment and frustrationamongst the youth. The result is an educated population unable to seek employment; either migrating to other states or surviving on anti- social activities. In the same breath the unemployed youth become puppets of the party in power, completely involved in political activities including intimidation and harassment of innocent populace for the peanuts that the party offers. Thus enhanced frustration within the population increaseslaw and order problems for the society at large.
In a country like ours there is a wide variety in levels of growth between different States.Thus it becomes easy for a state to blame circumstances beyond their control or the attitude of previous Governments for lack of development. However, the basic truth is that it is the desire, vision and efforts of the present leaders and the party in power which could and would stimulate growth. If there is a genuine desire to stimulate growth, it can be done. We as humans are resistant to change. Change can only be forced down, and when that does happen, then it is accepted and the population reaps the benefits.There are some pre-requisites for growth, and these are common across the board. They need to be dealt with imaginatively.
There is always the age old dispute between land needed for agriculture and land for industry. While a farmer would always desire his land remains with him, however the opening of industry would only increase the availability of jobs in an area or state. A clear example is Sanand in Gujarat, where the Nano factory shifted. The deposits in this town since the shiftinghave increased by over 2,785%. The same villagers are now earning far more, than they would have earned from their fields. Thus it was more beneficial to enable industry to come in, rather than continue farming with small holdings of land.
There is no shortfall of capital and technology,in India, which are considered essential pre-requisites for growth. To invite entrepreneurs’ to a state is possible, as long as they are assured of support. Support for an industry includes security of infrastructure and investment, which would always flow from physical security to correct labour laws and minimum interference by the state machinery or unions affiliated to the government in power. Incentives could include land at a reduced cost, close to main lines of communication, enabling movement of raw material, products and goods, assured power and water supply and ultimately some taxation benefits. It is incorrect to assume that industry would only form and develop in some states and not the rest. The environment to invite industry rests with the state government.
There is however one more additional factor for this state and that is internal security.Support of militancy and anti-national and anti-development attitude by a few elements for their own personal and private agenda harms and creates a negative environment for the rest of the population. It tends to draw into its fold those who have suffered due to lack of development. Thus it causes insecurity in investment and leads to investors moving away from such an environment. The state is the authority and can with the collaboration and support of the centre build this atmosphere of trust within the state to enable development to commence and the educated populace to be provided with suitable employment.
The state has no dearth of options for opening of industry. The expanding of the railways deep into the valley, improvement of the existing highways and vast availability of land for industry in the plains sector could make this state a truly developed one in a short time. The tourism and religious industry, which is already flourishing now, could expand further and go even deeper inlands, into unchartered areas bringing forth growth and development, thus enhancing income for the populace. Imaginative ideas, with collaboration with the right industrial leaders could change the state economy and reduce unemployment. However, a push for security with the centre in tow is needed to change the environment within.
The present Government, with Central support, (after all they are partners in development and share power at the State), could be the harbingers of change. If they could even start the process now, they would have done what all others failed for past almost seven decades. The present Government then would have fulfilled its promise and responsibility to the populace.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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