SWARNA BHARATI - A PERSPECTIVE

 

Dr. B. SREE RAMA MURTY

 

In 1947, only 5 percent of the population had a satisfactory living. Beneath this lay a sea of poverty, comprising about 300 million people by then. Low income, preventable disease, premature death and illiteracy were some existing realities. Even today, the number of poor did not come down but increased to 320 million, since the total population in all these years has gone three fold. The four I’s, namely, Indigence, Illiteracy, Insanitation and Isolation prevail. The socio-economic system continues to generate poverty and the political structure is either colluding or helpless about it. The disastrous drift of young from our resource rich rural interior to the ill serviced cities and towns is directly related to the kind of education they receive, which equips them neither to use their hands nor head. Even today India has more malnourished and illiterate persons than any other country. Problems of any nature do not directly affect the 20 percent of population, the traders, industrialists, politicians and civil servants, big farmers and top professionals. The present stage of economic administration represents ambiguous social philosophy which makes the government weep for the poor and prop the rich. It is a mockery of social justice that people who are willing to work do not find jobs in public or private sector.

 

A time has come to transform the role and function of the government to depart away from some of its powers to local administration. The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution devolving responsibilities and powers to the district administration and local bodies are a belated step in a right direction.

 

            Let us examine the position in a few crucial areas like Agriculture, Industry and Science and Technology:

 

Agriculture:

 

India lives mainly in villages which are around 5,75,000. The village remains the basic unit of Indian society and 70 percent of the population is rural, which constitutes the back bone of agricultural economy. Today it accounts for one thirds of the national income and two thirds of the work force. Agricultural economy has witnessed profound changes during the past 50 years. The problems of rural unemployment and poverty broadly correspond to the agriculture scenario in the country. The post independent development strategy has over looked this sector. As such during the second and third plans, there is a decline in the public sector outlay on agriculture, which has been one of the main reasons for the agricultural crisis during the sixties. There is a better performance from forth plan onwards, as the growth benefits have been drawn from non-agricultural outputs. The effect of the green revolution continued in the seventies. Food grain production has shown a growth rate of nearly 2.2 percent in 95-96.

 

From time immemorial. India has prospered when Gods of rain smiled. India’s surface and ground water resources, if fully exploited, would irrigate half of its cultivated area.

 

The application of modern technology increased crop output. The high yielding varieties of seeds for the commercial cultivation of wheat and rice have given a sharp rise in the yield in a short span. The other factors associated with agriculture, like animal husbandry, poultry and fisheries could go a long way in reducing unemployment. Thus, agriculture can offer considerable scope for attaining self sufficiency in food and removing unemployment and poverty.

 

Due to partition, India lost much of its irrigated land in north west as well as in east. From first to eighth five year plans, 62,000 crores were invested on irrigation and flood control works. There is an increase of 17.1 percent of irrigated area during the eight plans. Major irrigation projects adversely affect forest cover, salinity and increase susceptibility of the region to earth quakes and also cause problems of rehabilitation. Thus future growth of irrigation will have to revolve around minor irrigation works, which may face limited ground water recharge. Surface minor irrigation schemes like tank irrigation through water shed management approach is an alternative to be explored. A bill on the ground water law would mitigate some problems.

 

The effect of I.C.A.R. and its centres spread all over the country along with 21 agricultural universities in different states, paid handsome dividends in absorbing, diffusing and improving the agricultural technology. However, raising yields in rain-fed un-irrigated areas has remained far from satisfactory. Now both land and water are scarce. A technology breakthrough in the dry land farming technique is a major need. The new vistas opened up by researches in Bio-technology like genetic engineering and tissue culture can help break this stalemate. Moreover since Bio-technology is environment-friendly, it can contribute significantly in regenerating degraded environment. Thus the future of agricultural growth and development crucially hinges on the priorities accorded to research in Bio­technology.

 

Industry:

 

The Industrial economy of pre-independent era was geared to the requirements of imperial and colonial interests. After independence, the government had set up industrial enterprises in several areas, the public sector was envisaged, as the private sector had no resources and skills. This public sector expanded and came to operate on core and heavy industries ‘as well as several consumer goods industries, service oriented areas, external trade and infrastructure for agriculture. The public sector did well in segments like petroleum, steel, coal, power generation, fertilisers and petrochemical. However its overall performance became a matter of concern due to various factors. The services managed by government are notable for their unmanageable size than for technical efficiency or service quality. At the same time very little space is left to the private sector and foreign investors, which are overrun with regulations and controls.

 

The second five year plan provided broad frame work for industrial development. The PSUs as was envisaged, would generate enough investible surplus and protect public welfare. But it failed in both.

 

The industrial policy of 1956 created three distinct schedules of industry a) public sectors b) private and public sector undertakings and c) consumer good industries. The role of the private sector participants was very limited. The need for reform in PSU arises from the fact that government does not have budgetary resources to continue subsidising the loss making units. Initial efforts of liberalisation were made in 1975 in basic drugs, machine tools etc. In 1980, large industrial houses were allowed to avail the facilities of expansion. Although the liberalisation was partial, it led to better performance, as the rate of capital formation increased to 21 percent, improving productivity. This was further modified in 1990, to take liberation further and the economy picked up significantly. However, the small scale industries were not taken care of. Direct foreign investment is now permitted virtually in every sector and in the coming years, foreign firms may even dominate the core sectors like telecommunications, power and transport.

 

Liberalisation has given an opportunity to both industry and consumers to internet optimally in the market. Exports have gone up and revenues have accrued to the government. Consumer demographics have changed in the last few years. The emergence of middle class for major consumption territory vastly improved the market conditions. For most of the new generation entrepreneurs, India has become an exciting destination for a variety of reasons like the size of the market, less expensive labour and vast skill base.

 

Science & Technology:

 

The Scientific tradition of India dates had to ancient and medieval times, during which unparallel advances in mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, and medical sciences took place and this golden era lasted till 12th century. Subsequently the pace slowed down due to external aggressions and internal feuds, repressions due to foreign rule. Subsequent developments in Europe and elsewhere stole over the march. The scientific culture remained dormant till the turn of this century.

 

The Indus valley civilisation places evidences of techniques of town planning, metallurgy medicine and surgery. The feudalistic structure prevailing there-after resulted in a period of scientific stagnation. Irrational thinking, superstition and ritualistic practices marred the glorious scientific traditions of the past. When scientific and industrial revolutions took place in west, India appears to have hardly responded to the sweeping changes. The British did develop science and technology, but basically to cater to their commercial interests only. Notable achievements are concept of small-pox vaccination, textile, steel and paper technology, which were abrogated by British to serve their interest back home. The British have also setup a number of scientific organisations such as Survey, Meteorological observatories, Geological Survey, Archaeological Survey, Botanical and Zoological Survey and Agricultural research.

 

The real Indian awakening of modern science came around 1875, when Mahendralal Sircar founded Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Calcutta. This produced great scientific minds like C.V. Raman, S.K. Mitra, S.N. Bose, M.N. Saha, P.C. Ray and J.C. Bose.

 

Indian science scaled to new heights with the work of C. V. Raman and particular works of S.N. Bose, an outstanding theoretical physicist, which led to the so called Bose­Einstein statistics in the behaviour of elementary particles of nature. The works of Srinivas Ramanujam and the engineering feats of M. Viswesvarayya led to self reliance in executing large complex projects of dams, irrigation schemes, power production etc. By 1947, nine Indian scientists have been elected to the prestigious Fellowship of Royal Society of London. The coveted Nobel prize to C. V. Raman in 1930 was an ample proof for the fact that Indian science is once again on the world map and its practitioners are at par with world calibre.

 

The post independent era saw the emergence of organised research and technology in Indian industry. Credit for this goes to visionaries like Jawaharlal Nehru and eminent architects of science in modern India like H.J. Bhabha and S.S. Bhatnagar. The country owes it to these eminent men for the network of research institutions, the scientific manpower, the industrial infrastructure and technological base that exists today and the remarkable achievements in the fields of atomic energy, space technology and defence.

 

The western medicine or allopathy was introduced in India during colonial times, which has supplemented the rich heritage of indigenous medical system. A major success in recent times is the eradication of small-pox. The thrust is towards primary health care, health of mother and child and family welfare programmes, universal immunisation against six major killer diseases diphtheria, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, pertussis and polio.

 

One of the more recent ambitious programmes has been the national programme on super-conductivity. Other major areas are oceanography, non-conventional and renewable sources of energy, bio-technology and environment. The Indian personality is giving way to a new self confidence among the young, which was not seen some thirty years ago as such, the future of scientific achievements will be quite safe in the hands of new generations.

 

Epilogue:

 

The darkest hour is before the dawn as such the tasks before us are very clear. India’s population of 840 million in 1991 is estimated to reach 1260 million by 2016. Compared to 1961, this accounts to adding three more Indias by then. We will surpass China by then and there will be large population imbalance between north and south. To pin hopes on family planning alone is unrealistic and the need is for a proper education in the direction. By 2025, India will have the highest number of mega cities in Asia. Slum life and crime rate are likely to increase and many may exist in each Megan city. Certain constructive programmes towards basic education, sanitation, health and hygiene, peaceful co­existence of various communities have to be undertaken. Youth have to be liberated from bonds of desperation and despondency. The process of development should be made participative. The promise to “end poverty, disease and inequality of opportunity” should be fulfilled. Elimination of hunger, illiteracy, unemployment, protection of environment and preservation of bio-diversity are to be taken on war-footing by government and the society as well.

 

But it cannot exist without the freedom to dissent and due tolerance must be shown to healthy and constructive criticism. One great danger to democracy is the tendency the party or the state with an individual or a charismatic personality and attribute to him qualities of infallibility - Such a danger will not be there in countries, where democracy has taken deep roots and people have acquired high degree of political alertness. A climate of discipline is the most essential factor for the functioning of democracy. Need for adherence to ethical norms by individuals holding high offices cannot be over emphasized. All power is like a trust and should be wielded with great care and caution. Another danger we face is the attempt to politicalize the public services. Particularly at the state level, hypothecation of faculties as well as servile subservience to the political bosses is a malady. The so called civil servants then will be neither civil nor servants. The success of democracy does not depend on a well drafted, nobly worded provisions of Constitution, but depends in the final analysis on the way the system is worked. That is the real “SWARAJ”.

 

 

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