WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TEAM MODI IN THE 2ND INNING

Elections are over and a new Government under the Leadership of Shri Narendra Modi will continue with what has been initiated by the BJP-LED-NDA Government from 2014 onwards.

It is also time to look into the issues which the Government should focus. The list can be exhaustive.  However, to put it briefly, the focus according to me should be as under:

The Economy needs to be revived. The manufacturing sector needs to be boosted. The Corporate profit to GDP Ratio has touched 15 year low and that requires an in-depth correction. It is also a time that Government focuses on Agrarian Reforms and Agro based Industries should be given a boost. The water crisis in our country is real and it is time that rivers in India should be duly protected, connected, with focus on sustainable development. Access of clean water for consumption and water for farming sector should be the focus. The Tourism Sector’s is one area which need major focus. Tourism, in India, alone has the potential to change the fortune of economy and thus, it is very necessary that Tourism should be duly promoted.

Health care is another area which needs focus of the Government. Compared to high income countries where public expenditure on health is more than 5% of GDP, In India, the public expenditure on health is meager and it is 1% and below.  Thus, it will not be out of place to say that at this juncture, in the history of nation when we have got maximum young people, focus on the health sector has to be manifold/multiplied than what it has been in the past/currently.

Education is another area which requires focus of the Government.  It is seen that though enrolments of students in primary education have increased, it is not increased for secondary and higher education.  It is necessary that education should be made affordable, realistic and job/expertise oriented.

General equality & Children Welfare is another area which has to be the focus of the Government. The inequality and crime against women and children, in one form or the other, is on rise and it is time that a realistic approach is taken so as to safeguard the status of the women and children.  

Law and Order, which is the primary function of the State, has remained unsatisfactory over the years.  Thus, it is necessary that the Central Government, in consultation with State Governments, tries to provide genuine reforms in the Law and Order scenario.  It is time for actual implementation of recommendations of various committees, including Malimath Committee on Police reforms.  It is also time where enforcement of Law should be separated from maintenance of Order.  Police Machinery should be more human and people friendly and at the same time, there has to be increase in the number of police personnel with better infrastructure facilities than what we have today.

Judiciary Reform is another area which is crying for urgent attention. Millions of cases are pending in Courts of Law where judiciary, instead of being the temple of justice, becomes a pain for seekers of justice.  Thus, it should be the focus of the Government.

Urban Governance should have direct participation of people.  City Governance needs overall improvement. Nagar Panchayat has come into place but is powerless. More power should be given to City Governance by having directly elected Mayors in all the cities which are having population of above 10 Lakh. 74^th Constitutional Amendment read with Model Nagar Raj Bill prepared by Urban development ministry should be implemented in true sense of the terms.

Right to Services is another area which needs focus of the current Government. At the time of American Revolution, it was stated that “no taxation without representation”. It is time, we, the people of India say, “taxation should be coupled with adequate services in return”.  It is necessary that some basic services should be guaranteed. There has to be administrative responsibility and liability for the failure to provide the required services within the time frame and in proper manner. The people cannot be taken for guaranteed and Service guarantee is a necessity in today’s world.

National Security and Foreign Affairs is another area which need focus of the Government. Certainly, these are the areas where this Government has done a decent job.  However, there should not be any deviation from the focus. Time to make intelligence much more better than what it is today so that incidents of terrorist activities are reduced to minimal level. It is also time that foreign relation should be improved with our neighbours.

Cultural Renaissance is another area which could be a focus. It is to be based on actual research based bodies. It is time that proper Infrastructure and Research Organisation is created to look into the cultural aspects read with Scientific Temper of Ancient Indian Civilization which have been totally neglected because of the onslaught of leftist ideologues.

Certainly, what is stated above is not exhaustive and there are various other areas which can be thought of/which may have missed out but what is stated above is something which should form the focus of new government.