Shiban Khaibri
Heralding a new era, breaking the inertia and reversing the state of dormancy, it is not only “Made in India” but we now are poised for “Make in India”. Highlighting the concept and speaking the language of an economist who does not resort to assumptions and hypothetical premises, Prime Minister Narindra Modi spelt out the concept while addressing the business magnets and industrialists in New Delhi shortly before leaving for New York on 25th instant. He gave a passionate clarion call to prospective foreign investors to “come to India and make in India and sell the world over” because “we in India have every thing to facilitate investment”. We have world’s best talent as demonstrated by our scientists who in one attempt, at enviable cheap cost, sent a satellite into orbit around Mars or in the words of the PM, “Today MOM has met Mangal”, the demonstration of India about innovation with ingenuity compelling our prankish neighbour China to say, “This is pride of India and pride of Asia.” Why shouldn’t it be the pride of Asia as India joined the superb club of the three countries of the world having achieved similar feat?
Indian Government was determined to roll out a red carpet to investors instead of the stumbling red tape as Government has identified 25 key sectors for the purpose. Modi has promised a time bound decision for any problem coming in the way of the investors, within 72 hours. The concept encapsulates involvement of the centre, states and the missions. Enumerating about India’s prospective placement in a due and proper niche in an expanded way in the global manufacturing horizon, since all the parameters were available and in abundance in India, it was safe, conducive, cost competitive and assured of returns to invest, to bring capital and new technology. The investors would earn profits while manufacturing activities would create jobs, the need of and demand for which is there in our country. Make in India was not merely a slogan but a vision, a massive projection of skilled Indians, the industrious Indians and the promising Indians. Fully aware of the apprehensions that had crept into the psyche of the investors due to the policy paralysis, the malaise of lacking decisions making all the years of the decade gone by, Modi has assured investment backing and conducive Government support and even passing of necessary labour laws or amending the existing ones without compromising with the safety net of the employees. Industrial corridors, development of smart cities and building infrastructure would give a new momentum to fully tap competitive strength and talent of Indians. According to Modi, time had come that the industry and the Government worked together. Speaking on the “Make in India” campaign, Nirmala Sitharaman , union minister for commerce and industry said that we were fully committed to delicensing, deregulation and bringing about radical changes as we wanted to chart out new path to extend red carpet welcome to business entities. Equally speaking on the occasion, Mukesh Ambani held the opinion that India was blessed with a leader like Narindra Modi possessing unique leadership qualities as “What he dreams, he does it practically, working 14 hours a day, he motivates 14 billion Indians.” He further said that “Made” was past and “Make” is present for “all Indians and the world.”
Facing the biggest challenge to generate annually jobs enough to accommodate as many as 12 million youth who would benefit from trainings and skill development programme of the Government envisaging the feeling about knowing the depth and the width of the talent pool being unprecedented in the country, make in India was thus not a dream but a sure possibility. The world was moving fast as per the belief of the PM and that the country , especially the youth had to actively participate in the marathon, the challenges were to be surmounted as in the words of Kenichi Ayukama head of the Maruti India , ” India is not easiest country to do business in.” Old notions and reckless complacency were to be replaced with innovative and bold initiatives. How much was the time factor important in the manufacturing sector was laid bare by Cyrus Mistry from Tata group saying, “We need time bound efficient administration.” It may be recalled that the UPA 2 had created “history” in not clearing projects and allied files for years together weakening the investment prospects not only of other countries but even of domestic investors. Modi told domestic investors to first “Make in India “and then elsewhere and look ahead to become multi nationals to spread from here instead of vice versa. He felt quite saddened to note that in the past, many Indians were leaving the country in search of the opportunities elsewhere. Pleading people to restore faith in them and in Indian manufacturing, he promised to create such environment so as not to force any industrialist to leave India. Giving a new definition to the FDI, he said it meant “First Develop India” also besides Foreign Direct Investment. The aim is to convert clusters of Indian villages into markets. It laid stress on “digital India” to convert it into a fastest growing economy of the world, looking to the need to think differently and toil towards a new paradigm shift as Indian share in global manufacturing was less than 16% as compared to China with 34%, South Korea with 37%, Germany with 29% and so on.
Modi in his speech, punctuated with net tangible economic and commercial concepts, wanted investors to treat India as a preferred manufacturing destination because of a unique demographic dividend, availability of raw material, skills and abundant talent. He laid stress on quality and sustainability. According to him, India was blessed with three “Ds” – Democracy, Demography and Demand. Increasing people’s spending power and creating opportunities for employment, skill development, and human resources development were the thrust areas of the effective governance. Effective governance, according to Modi was not only a slogan but a movement, a mission and a road map for massive economic take off. He talks pure economic and social issues unlike his predecessor, he is on a mission to lift millions out of poverty unlike his predecessor, he walks the talk and resorts never to mere rhetoric unlike his predecessor, he is more than confident unlike his predecessor. Modi sends a call for thousands of new Vasco Da Gamas looking for new vibrant India unlike his predecessor. He accepts the challenges unlike his predecessor to show results with the same bureaucracy, the same files, the same premises, same offices and the same people around as the “sooch” has changed and changed for doing something extra ordinary. He is confident of his team to prove as facilitators for a better climate for investors. Promising no interference except only in cases of deficiencies, Modi has in mind the relevant concerns and priorities. He has in mind Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s innovative economic missions like “Golden Quadrilateral ” projects by virtue of which an impetus to country’s economic growth could take place . Days of Fabian socialism and protectionist policies are over; a new dawn has descended of massive economic liberalization conducive to Indian conditions, all due to innovative thinking of Modi.
India’s credit rating has been upgraded by S and P to “stable” which was “Negative” during UPA 2 Government, thus acknowledging positive timely efforts by Modi Government. There could have been no better timing than this when the dynamic PM Modi is on top in inviting investments in India coupled with his historic maiden visit, as Prime Minister to United States of America. That could be the reason for a scramble to get a seat in Madison Square Garden to have a glimpse of the humble “Chai wala” having turned into darling of Indians and an envy of other countries – a charismatic, bold, innovative and visionary Indian leader. Those ranting Kashmir and something like “solution according to the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir” in UNGA in New York had to eat a humble pie as there was no response from anywhere whatsoever as everyone seemed busy in how to roll red carpet for Prime Minister of India Narindra Modi.
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