Ramesh Pandita
It would be quite unfair to draw conclusion about the success and the failure of the present NDA Government, which completed its 365 days in office on May 25, 2015. The role of media, both electronic and print is laudable in the modern times for the fact that apart from fulfilling its role as public mouthpiece, somewhere also forces both the elected and the appointed public servants to fulfill their role and responsibility on the desired lines. So in a way, the debate raised by some sections of the media over the work done by the NDA Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi during the past one year is appreciable to a greater extent, but there is far greater need to observe caution in drawing conclusions, as these debates need to be seen and served as a reminder to elected representatives, of the promises made to public and their possible fulfillment, rather counting on success & failure of the Government.
Indeed, one year is a sufficient time for any Government to make its presence felt and it would be unfair not to credit the NDA Government on this account, especially the way Narendra Modi has single handedly taken over the campaign of the country and has made the presence of the country felt not only among Indian masses, but across the world as a whole. The way Mr. Modi has visited across 17 different nations, both within and outside the subcontinent since assuming office has clearly signaled out his vision towards having and strengthening the diplomatic ties with both the powerful and the feeble nations of the world, justifies his slogan of taking everybody ahead, viz. “Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas”. There should be no denial in the fact the Mr. Modi has more or less taken over the role of country’s brand ambassador, the way he has projected India at the global forum during the past one year and the way the world has started looking at India. Even it would have been appropriate, had Mr. Modi kept the portfolio of external affairs ministry to himself, as he would have been more effective in addressing external assignments.
Of the so many things happening around, one of the mainstays of the present govt. is, its focus on the unorganized sectors of the Indian society. The NDA Govt. seems very much particular about connecting those issues and aspects of society which hitherto remained untouched. Bringing common man forward and connecting him with the organized sector of the country is indeed a laudable gesture of the present Government. Be it by connecting the people with organized sector by launching the schemes like “Pradhanmantri Suraksha Beema Yojana”, “Atal Pension Yojana”, “Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana”, the launching of Jan Dhan Yojana for non bank-account holders of the country or even the “Swach Bharat Abhiyan”, all these programmes are actually aimed to reach-out to those people and sections of society who hitherto remained devoid of connecting with the country’s mainstream or organized sector.
Drawing a comparison between the benefits extended by the Govt. to the people from both the organized and unorganized sectors of the Indian society under its two newly launched insurance schemes, by paying Rs. 12 and Rs 330 as annual premium appears to some as a joke and to others as something unbelievable. The fact of the matter is that things are required to be seen beyond what they appear by far and this is what holds true about the two new insurance schemes. There is a need to understand that the Prime Minister in the office is clear about his vision of tapping the potential of the Indian economy at the micro level, to what economists’ term as microeconomics. This is for sure, that these micro-economic schemes are going a long way in serving the public interests in the identified areas. It is a known fact that in most of the accidental cases, when people suffer with complete or partial disability or even in the case of death, Govt is somewhat bound to provide monetary assistance to the victims as a temporary relief, thereon integrating people, mostly from unorganized sector with the mainstream by making nominal contributions is going to help turn such schemes more sustainable.
Tapping the true potential of microeconomics to its optimum gets better corroborated by the successful launch of the Jan-Dan Yojana, under which the accounts were supposed to be opened with zero balance, but more than 10,500 crore rupees stand deposited in nearly 12.54 crore accounts opened under the scheme, by their account holders. Given the size of the country’s population, households and the people in the earning age group, these small scheme savings in the country like India are going to make a substantial difference. Accordingly, premium of Rs. 12 or Rs 330 is so nominal that by no means will the premium amount prove as a burden or liability on insured person and the revenue generated from the country with over 1.2 billion population from these micro-contributions will go a long way in turning the launched schemes into self-sustaining ones.
Although the practice of paying some nominal pension to old aged and infirm has been already in vogue, but with the launch of Atal Pension Yojana, people from other unorganized sectors will be connected to organized ones, be they people from the private sector, small scale industries, self-employed and others including the people engaged in farming and family business will be immensely benefitted. The scheme is a leap forward towards connecting the people at disadvantage towards the organized sector. This scheme shall prove effective in overcoming the psyche of all those young unemployed and underemployed youth, especially by ensuring a guaranteed regular income in their old age. The scheme is not just going to give reprieve to the people in spearing a part of their earnings for a rainy day, but also as young bread winners, people will be reduced of their psychological burden, leading to higher levels of satisfaction and contention with life.
Lest we forget, there is a need to remind about the Swach Bhart Abhiyan, perhaps the most ambitious project of the present day India, whereby the cleanliness drive has been launched across the length and breadth of the country, which has been able to mobilize and garner the public support & interest, as the people from all walks have shown faith in the drive and as such are actively contributing their bit in this regard. The schemes launched towards the financial and social security of girl child deserves equal attention, be it Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao or Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. With the launch of these schemes not only the people from socially disadvantaged sections of society or from any other underprivileged section, but also the advantaged and well-off sections of society from both urban and countryside seem more than happy by connecting with these initiatives.
The wheel of time may have indeed moved to its full cycle, but this cycle is simply the initiation phase of the present govt. as it is bound to go another full four cycles, given the mandate public has given to the Govt. in the office. A full five year term with sufficient numbers leaves no scope for the present govt. to cite reasons or show inability on the delivery front and it is these five years of the Govt. which will decide the fate of its next five year term to which Mr. Modi looks forward with far greater optimism. In other words, there is sufficient time for the present govt. to make its mark by serving the aspirations of the people to their satisdaction.
(The author is Assistant Librarian, BGSB University, Rajouri, J&K)
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