On the 65th Independence Day we are at the threshold of One, a revolution that has just demands but an poorly thought out dimensions, Two, comatose governance, Three, all encompassing greed, Four, a dispirited polity, Five, a directionless security strategy, Six, a totally destroyed food security system. We also have a vast and fast growing consumer, we have a population more than the land can bear to carry, we have a vast horde of directionless youngster unemployed but utilized by the politicians, underworld and religious heads for their activities disturbing activities at will at regular intervals. The public health system is in a shambles, The education sector is a mass of corruption.
But we still have the courage and hope that things will change.
Was this not the case 65 years ago and every year over these six and a half decades?
Why does this catch the attention now more than it did two decades ago?
Over the past two decades the concentration was on economic growth and fattening of the already well heeled with the middle rung joining in. The destitute have always been left to their karma, then and now and will be so. The growth story is mistakenly credited to the then finance minister when the courage to go ahead was given by the then prime minister who everyone maligns. And the then finance minister is the present prime minister, so where did that growth story vanish? Growth in numbers or growth in real terms? The past reform brought growth in real terms. Now it is on paper for economic survey and justifications and platitudes.
Growth inevitably brings in inflation as there is more consumer demand goes one argument. But is it not contradictory? When there is growth it means there is supply growth and demand growth. Just because demand outstrips supply one can not call this demand pull inflation. If there continues to be growth and there is supply shortage you can not have both arguments that it is cost push and demand pull at the same time. With food rotting away how can one claim that there is growth? Others point that raising the MSP and the MGNREG is also a factor. If all facts were as per official hand outs the 50% odd population will not be poor and unemployment will not be in double digits.
The film on Gandhi has been hailed. It is also said that only an Englishman could have made such a film. The dialogues come through echoing the present day. The images of the country side have not changed except for a wee bit.
People who despite having worked hard, toiled, sweated and shed blood are dismayed that they are no better off than they were a decade ago. Even a computer game will fail the player.
Is the emphasis on number backed growth breeding limitless corruption?
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