Sunday 28 February 2016

MAKE IN INDIA TO MADE IN INDIA



Indian economy   was a primarily an agrian economy during the post independence stage with over 60% contribution to GDP of the country.  Today, the service sector contributes 53 % of the Gross Value added whereas manufacturing is at 30%.  The share of service sector has grown rapidly in India whereas as manufacturing sector has had low growth.  In line with this, the GoI has launched the “Make in India” Initiative to boost the manufacturing growth in the country as well as to create India a manufacturing hub in the world.  No doubt, with such initiatives, India can soon be global power in the coming years. 

 


Modi government has been big on promises, but short on delivery is the constant allegation since it has come to power in 2014.  In beginning of 2016, consumer demand is low, rupee is at a 30 month low, the industrial output has fallen by 1.3%, rural economy is in a distress for 2nd year in a row with monsoon failure, NPAs of PSBs paint a scary picture.  A debt overriding and rising NPAs mean that even if there is demand, banks may not be too willing to lend. (Stressed loans in infrastructure sector)  All these are worrying signs. 


For make in India mission to be successful, the GoI needs to make its roots very strong. We need to have a very strong infrastructure in place in terms of good road connectivity, transportation and competitive prices which will reduce the lead time of transport and reduce the costs. We also need to focus on industrial relations, productivity and quality of goods produced as India is having complex labour rules. This is one of the points where we are behind the other countries.  At the same time, the various government department and state governments also have to come in alignment with this initiative.  On one hand the centre is pushing for make in India whereas on other hand you have Income-Tax department sending notices to Vodafone or a red tape in various channels of clearance. To start a company in India for investors, they need to get over 100 approvals from different agencies and this is a very tedious process. This can be aligned in to singly point of clearance in alignment in state in which the companies would like to invest.  Also the issue of Land acquisition needs to be carefully handled and arranged for investors. It takes a great amount of time and effort to have land to be used by companies. The point is that once the government takes care of all the root cause issues in the system, there is no doubt that we would see huge actual spike in investments rather than promises.  Cheap labour with young population is an added advantage to the country along with growth in economy. 

I also believe along with the government, we the citizens can also play a crucial role in Make in India initiative.  We can do our small bit in terms of buying made in India products.  We still look whether the product is manufacture in China, korea, US or any other country. This will also ensure that the money spent is within the country instead of it being sent abroad. 


India can produce high quality products at low cost,. It has the potential and ability. We need to be more consistent and passionate with work. Eg Mangalyan, submarine, 

India needs to invest a lot in R&D facility.  With the combined efforts of the government and we the people, there is no doubt that Make in India wish will be realised as Made in India. 

The world economy is witnessing another slow down and rapid decrease in Chinas growth. India couldnt have asked for a better time and opporutunity. India must savour the moment and push the make in India to made in India and be the global manufacturing hub. Our country stands to benefit greatly if the dream turns to a reality. Hope for the best.

Jai Hind.

Tuesday 23 February 2016

INDIAS ENEMY



India is a country which is strategically located in world map enjoys adavantage in maritime with southern peninsula, Himalaya in north which protects the country from cold Arctic winds, rich natural resources, population, history and culture. There is no other country in the world which is as diverse as India is. 

Over the past few days, I have been trying to understand who India’s enemy is. Before I move to tell you who it is, let us try to understand few things from a human body’s perspective.  

We know how the human body works. When our internal flow is strong, we are very fit and running fine. But when an external factor comes in contact with us, we get pain, wound or fracture in body.   Our death can be caused due to internal issues such as not taking care of body in form of health, stress and many other factors. 

 Similar is the case with our country. What I feel is that our neighbours be it China, Pakistan or any other country is not our enemy. These countries can be easily tackled with provided our internal systems are very strong. The reason is that both the countries are able to take advantage of India, because they know whatever they do, India will not react as internally it is not strong and bold enough to tackle them.

Answering the above question, which you would have guessed by now. Our country’s real enemy is we the people only (internal).  See what is happening in JNU or Haryana, UP or take any part of India.  Most of the attacks could have been avoided if we all are together and do not allow anyone to penetrate in to our country. 26/11 could have been avoided if some people did not support them. We get to see violence/ riots happening in different parts of country for reservation status or to spread uneasiness or on false rumour, political motive and various other reasons. Sometimes our politicians just see as if nothing happened..  They wake up in parliament, noise is made and the house is then adjourned for a period or indefinitely until consensus is raised.    Most of them are problem creator rather than problem solver. Why they all can’t come together, form a consensus and solve the problem. It’s time to grow up and go to the next level.  Even the common man is involved in many such issues. We have the insurgency in our country who are fed up with the governments functioning.  We also quite often see strikes in different parts of country on matters not of importance but for the want of few people.  At border, corruption sometimes takes place so that people can slide into the country. 

All the above issues suggest that our real enemy is not China or Pakistan, but internally within us. If we as a nation need to grow, it is of prime importance that we take care of ourselves in the same way we take care of our body.  We  as a nation have to internally address each of the problems, solve them and strengthen our country just like our body.  This will then destroy India’s enemy and there will be no country in the world which can take on India.

“Hope is like a cloud, but it comes true when it rains”
In the era of 21st century, when the world is going downward, it is India’s turn to capitalise on its growth. We as countrymen have a key role to play. 

Thursday 18 February 2016

INDIAN MEDIA : Way Forward





The Indian media was once a monopoly in radio and Television with AIR and Doordarshan being the only players in the market along with print media. This was the times of 70s and 80s.   People across the country would take time out from their routine activities to hear the news on radio and the evening news in Doordarshan.  Then in 19901, Indian government initiated the economic reforms, an era of liberalisation and privatisation. 

 In February 1995 a landmark Supreme Court judgement ruling declares that " airwaves are a public property. They have to be controlled and regulated by a public authority in the interest of the public and to prevent the invasion of their rights." The judgement outlines autonomy for Prasar Bharati and opened the broadcasting to private players.

Since then, we have started seeing many private channels enter the News channel segment. Today, we have over 100 news channel in India with all different channels in nature of language and content.  Same we have seen increase in print media also.

Every morning I see the newspaper being delivered just outside my door step, reading early in the morning, hoping to read some good stuff in paper.   I open the newspaper only to find not so good things on the social front in the very first page be it on corruption, rape, murder, terrorism, politics and others. This doesn’t leave a good feeling early in the morning.  The same I see in TV. The television channels go extra mile on such news though their prime time shows, panel discussion and in regular news.   

What I have noticed during my short stay abroad of 6 months, people abroad were saying that they are very scared to travel to India on a holiday. The reason given to me was because of insecurity feeling which is due to reasons stated above.  How do they come to know the happenings of such event? Yes, its the way Indian media has projected India to the outside world. India was projected as a country with corruption, lack of safety feeling, downward trend in economy and whole lot of social issues.  This had left a poor portrayal of our image abroad.  Sometimes, our media by blowing news out of proportion gives more courage to the hooligans to go extra mile and makes things even worse. (JNU, Mumbai attacks, Politics) . Tell me one thing, if the media didn’t give a damn over publicise such news, none of this would have lasted for such long time as they are now. But when we see foreign news channel, we don’t see such things being blown out.  Our media shows us what they want to show and not what people want to see. 

Our media must realise that they are also ambassadors of our country and they have huge responsibility along with freedom of speech. This must not be misused. It is important that they show the social issues in television/ print media so as to make people aware of same. At the same time, it is important that they do not blow it out of proportion so as to send wrong messages outside the country. 

Our country is very beautiful, has rich culture, heritage which should be used in the right channel and right manner. No doubt, the Indian media can play a huge part for our country to grow. The media has showcased very good initiatives with Siachen coverage, flood relief, earthquake relief, Swach Bharat and Green environment, save the tiger initiatives, Citizen Journalists and others.

This is what we would like to see the media do. Bring out issues by showcasing the effects of wrong doing, creating awareness on contribution each one can make for the country’s growth.  I hope, our media realises this at earliest and use the freedom of speech in right manner.

Sunday 7 February 2016

69 YEARS OF LOST OPPORTUNITY



If we go back into the history, Since the British Have started ruling India, the necessary infrastructure development started taking place with Railways and connectivity in terms of roads being brought in to India. Let us now keep aside all the wealth they have looted out of India. 

As I write this article in the 69th year of India Independence, a look into what we have as a country have done will present some interesting food for thoughts. 

At the time of Independence, India and China were at par in terms of PPP and infrastructure. But 69 years down the lane, undoubtedly China is well ahead of India in all terms.  China today is a world super power. When China sneezes, it sends shivers across the world. Be in any field (sports, infrastructure, defence, economy and others), today China is supreme over all 

It would be very interesting to note that until 1960s India and China were having the same growth. Then why have we lagged behind?

For decades the Indian government has squandered its future through lack of policy reforms, bureaucracy, inconsistency, corruption and many other factors. India desperately needs strong growth for years, even decades, to move to the first rank of nations, as China has done. India has extraordinary potential. 

Without sustainable growth, India will not follow China’s example to build a competitive manufacturing sector, generate broad-based income growth, and create a new great power capable of influencing global affairs. Such reforms will not be easy, but making tough decisions will enable the process. India needs to act fast as loss of time will only hinder the security and future of our nation. 

With the recently launched "Digital India" and "Make in India" Initiative, the 21st  century can be in our favour, just the way China boomed in later 20th Century and 1st decade of 21st century.  I hope all the MPs come together to enable a vision of prosperity for India. This can be India’s Century.  Jai Hind.