INDIAN POLITICAL ECONOMICS

                

A very funny observation about a certain attitude amongst us Indians is that we are generally intolerant about the happiness of others, the wellbeing of others, the success of others but at the same time we are very tolerant and almost sympathetic towards common ill-being, common difficulties shared by us and others. We find it difficult to accept the rich becoming richer or even do not like the poor to become rich and on the other hand we are contented and satisfied when none of us get rich, not even marginally comfortable. This can be seen typically in any organisation during the period of salary increment where employees who have got poor or no salary increments due to weak and no performance are more concerned and unhappy about people getting good or better increments rather than finding solutions for their poor performance. In an event of all the employees getting sacked or given no salary raise there won’t be as much fuss as when a few good performers are rewarded. This tolerance of common plight and shying away from introspection towards individual betterment is the sign of a nation without hope, without responsibility, accountability, without attitude of leadership.

Our political masters have given this phenomenon the name ‘inclusive growth’. It has now become the burden of the government to ensure that all citizens have to improve their living conditions together or there should be none at all. Economic reforms due to which a few groups or individuals making progress in this country have now become distasteful and forbidden. It has been observed during the past two decades that economic reforms have only helped to improve the conditions of a section of society and this has led to the defeat of the ruling party in successive elections. The Congress lost within a few years after Dr. Manmohan Singh introduced economic liberation policies and even Atal Bihari Bajpai lost after proclaiming India Shining. It has been seen even in the state elections in Andhra Pradesh when Naidu lost after pursuing economic policies that helped only Hyderabad raise as a global city. Now it appears that the Congress party which is ruling at the center has taken these lessons very seriously. The Congress think-tank and its High Command makes it a deliberate effort by going against every conventional opinion, to scuttle economic reforms which would help elevate the living conditions of any section of the population. They simply would like to avoid the unhappiness of the remaining. The cost to the nation of such thinking could be enormous but atleast it would lead to the Congress victory at the ballot because the entire population will be in the same boat sailing slowly. The country has now come to a stage where we would witness certain prolonged time frames of slow growth slightly above the Hindu growth rate. Populist measures (some half-baked) prolonging a subsidized economy will continue to rule for a while to come.

The wisdom of men like Dr. Manmohan Singh cannot be denied. Inclusive growth is a worthy goal for any nation. But unless someone is allowed to become the best by personal enterprise how would the others know how much behind they are? Is it possible to take everybody on the bus together? Only those who can afford to buy the tickets will be on the bus, others have to walk. But on the other hand how can one overlook the greed and unscrupulous practices of the profiteers who would go to any extent to project and protect falsehood. The problems faced by the US economy are ample proof. People have to come out of viewing events from their narrow personal circumstance and think for the benefit of all. For this India only needs quality leadership from everyone.