07/02/2013
With Japan and Canada partnering and 120 countries including USA,UK, Australia and the Netherlands participating,the 6th edition of India’s biggest global trade show in Gandhinagar last mont h spread over a la k h sqm displaying 25000 global products had only one underlying theme – “A Vibrant Gujarat ”. It was a reinforcement by arguably India’s most powerful Chief Minister Narendra Modi . Having just been elected for his third consecutive term by a thumping majority based on the plank of development and growth it would seem imprudent to even think of contradicting Gujarat’s vibrancy. Yet underlying facts continue to question.
Those who believe i n Modi’s v ibrant Gujarat are most impressed by the high sustainable rate of growth at over 10%, considerably higher than the national average. They believe since growth now is coming from agriculture as well as industry, reduction of rural poverty is inevitable. Where market fails, growth needs an efficient public expenditure to have the best trickle down effect. Gujarat has best implemented this template of governance. It has become the state wit h least unemployment rate and contributes maximum to country’s total new jobs. Exemplary industrial relations meant man-days loss were the least in the country. Whereas India’s growth in the high employing SME sector is just
19%, Gujarat’s is a staggering 85%. A clear strategy focused on need based skill development, technical up-gradation and research, Gujarat is India’s best answer to counter China’s aggressive policy to promote the SME sector. Modi has
stressed the need to create a ‘Made in Gujarat-India’ Brand, with z ero defect quality product. New policies to empower
youth, incubate innovation, aggressive and creative promotion of tourism, plans to foster education by partnering with
renowned international universities all make for Gujarat’s vibrancy. Today tourism in Gujarat grows at twice the rate of the country. This is a result of the aggressive ‘Promote Gujarat Campaign’ abroad and creative thrusts like organising the international kite festival. No doubt, that a lot of this success comes from Modi’s personal effort.
On Gujarat’s poor performance on social sectors, it is argued that the data available is outdated. The progress in health and education will be reflected in relevant data to come. Such as its specific interventions which have led to decline in dropout rates in schools, increase in enrolment rates especially for girls. Remarkable transformation in Gujarat is due to electricity and water, both potable and for irrigation. Roads have always been good though they too have improved. Gujarat has succeeded in the empowerment of the bureaucracy i.e. insulated it from political interference. Besides they have made a conscious attempt at the decentralization of planning. From the bureaucracy to the grassroots, an upward feedback loop from the beneficiaries to the planning system exists so that people are aware of t heir rights. Committed to making available the world-class infrastructural facilities in the state, the government has undertaken construction of investment region and smart cities, big-scale projects in all the sectors such as ports, roads, broadband connectivity, rail, logistics, communication network, transport, health, education and tourism. Credit for lighting up all villages, reviving bankrupt State Electricity Boards through loans and control of power thefts must go to Modi. Gujarat also did well in making the central government’s ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ work, especially in connection with the girl child. Personally, Modi is very updated with climate change and it forms an integral part of his future policy. No surprise then why all top industrialists swear by Modi.
That though is one side of the tale. Modi’s critics argue that a state’s development is not about GDP but people. 70% of Gujarat’s children under five are anaemic and almost half malnourished. On the Global Hunger Index, Gujarat ranks amongst the five worst performers in India which itself is ranked a lowly 66 among 88 countries. Literacy rate is extremely poor in tribal areas and primary education is in a sorry state. Just 3.1% of the 2011 Summit MOU’s are actually under implementation. Female foeticide is high, sex ratio at 918 is one of the worst, average daily wage of workers in rural Gujarat is just Rs. 83 and a paltry Rs. 106 in urban areas. To top it all Gujarat now runs a revenue deficit.
The second line of criticism is on comparative terms. Modi’s boast is put to test by other better performing states. Despite its much touted high GDP growth it does not figure in the top five over the last decade. Orissa and Chattisgarh have a higher industrial growth rate. In terms of wealth too, Gujarat falls below Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Kerala which have low poverty rates.