Thought for the day
"Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable
form."
-
Karl Marx (German, 1818-1883)
Word for the day
Nostomania (n)
An irresistible compulsion to return home; intense
homesickness.
(Source:
Dictionary.com)
Teaser for the day
For the sake of 10cr Biharis, should
NiKu patch up with NaMo and join NDA?
Let people set the agenda
Continuing from yesterday, I
would like to clarify here that I fully support and admire any effort to
improve the efficiency and productivity of government administration. All the
regulatory and procedural changes that enhance competitiveness and
profitability of corporates are also welcome.
My concern is that these measures bring incremental changes in the
direction and trajectory of economic growth. These measures are usually
inadequate in bringing any structural change in the economy, something we need
desperately at this point in time of history.
The economic model adopted post independence era, which was
mostly an extension of the exploitive colonial model used by British Empire,
has promoted inequalities, injustice and unsustainability. This is the economic
paradigm we need to change by instituting fundamental reforms. Improving
efficiency of the extant system is just not sufficient.
In my view the economic reforms should be designed inter alia
with the following objectives in view, viz.,
(a) Developing an
environment of equality and mutual trust.
(b) Promoting the
strengths of Indian economy rather than bridging the weaknesses.
(c) Enabling the
population rather than merely providing for them.
Inarguably, the most valuable resource for India is her people.
In not implementing the recommendation of Balwant Rai Mehta committee (1957) on
local self governance, our political system has been unable to develop an
environment of mutual trust and transparency and thus failed the people of
India. Despite, Narasimha Rao government ensuring 73rd constitutional
amendment in 1992, the political establishment has shown great reluctance in
sharing power with the local bodies and common people.
A key economic reform would be to earnestly hand over the
ownership of natural resources to “the public”. Instead of few feudal ministers
controlling the resources. The trusteeship of all the natural resources may be
vested in the local body of people. The local people should determine how these
resources should be exploited. Industry based on these resources if developed
on co-operative model with equitable ownership of (i) local people (ii)
financial investors and (iii) technical experts who would manage the business,
the growth could be fast, equitable, and sustainable.
Similarly, local bodies may also be empowered to decide
appropriate taxation structure and incentive formulae to achieve the objective
of social, economic & gender equalities, sustainability and development.
For example, each local body may determine the development
priorities and allocate resources accordingly. Given the diversified
demographic, ecological and socio-economic profile of the country, efficient
policies for energy, education, employment, industrial development, ecology
conservation etc could efficiently be worked out only at the local level.
...to continue next week
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