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Advani's 5-point plan for double-digit growth�
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May 18, 2005 18:05 IST - Rediff�
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India could break the chains of under-achievement and begin attaining higher rates of economic growth in the 1990s only after it discarded the influence of that Soviet model, said Bharatiya Janata Party President L K Advani at the CII's Annual Session and National Conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.��
He also laid down a roadmap to achieve double-digit GDP growth rate for the country.��
Following is the partial text of his speech:��
Friends, I did not want my address today on a business platform to have political overtones. But I had to place the theme of my address -- 'How to Achieve Double Digit Inclusive Growth' -- in its proper national context. Now I turn, briefly, to presenting five specific thoughts.�
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One,
both the central and state governments must continue to focus on rapid expansion and modernisation of our infrastructure. We must especially consolidate our gains in information technology and other areas of the knowledge economy.��
The work on ambitious infrastructure projects such as the National Highway Development Project, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Indian Railways' Rashtriya Rail Vikas Yojana, modernisation of our airports and construction of greenfield airports, the Sagar Mala project for the modernisation of our ports infrastructure, the many initiatives on urban renewal, implementation of power sector reforms as per the Electricity Bill 2003, strengthening of our Science & Technology infrastructure -- all this must receive strong, focused and sustained attention.��
I am sorry to say that the implementation of many of these projects has slowed down, especially the power sector reforms. If the alarming situation in Mumbai and Maharashtra is any pointer, then we must realise that we cannot live in the past and continue with old attitudes about the role of the private sector in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.�
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Two,
not just physical infrastructure but also our social infrastructure needs similar strong, focused and sustained attention. In particular, the needs of our SC, ST and OBC brethren must become our collective priority. Faster economic growth without social justice is an affront to our Constitutional ideals.�
Here, learning from past experience, we must admit that the capability of government agencies to implement social sectors programmes and deliver results does not inspire confidence. Therefore, I am all for the widening and deepening the scope for public-private partnerships in education, health-care, drinking water supply, sanitation, housing for the poor and middle-classes, slum rehabilitation, etc.�
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Three,
a big area of much-needed reforms is agriculture. Your incoming President has made a name for himself on agricultural issues and I hope that in his Presidency, CII will promote reforms in agriculture, marketing, technology transfer, food processing, etc. I am aware that agriculture is a state subject and states have to take the lead. I am pleased that Madhya Pradesh, a BJP-ruled state has been leading the reforms in agriculture marketing.�
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Four,
another important issue is to promote good governance reforms, both at the Centre and in states. I've long held that Swaraj in India was not followed by Su-Raj. I understand that CII has recently done some brainstorming workshops on this subject of state-related reforms. This is important, and you must push as hard for reforms in states as you did for economic reforms at the Centre in the last twelve years. We need to make state governments -- the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary -- realise the importance of faster reforms.��
In this context, you will be pleased to know that earlier this month we organised a three-day training workshop near Mumbai for all the ministers of the BJP-ruled states -- Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Nagaland (our party is a coalition partner in the last two states). It was the first of its kind for any political party in the country.��
While on the point of good governance, I must emphasise that this should not be confined only to Raisina Hill; it is also needed in Nariman Point. Corporate India must also follow the relevant norms and rules of good corporate governance -- both in letter and in spirit.�
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Five,
the imperative of achieving high growth with employment and equity has to be a common commitment for both governments and the business community. India's overwhelmingly young population needs adequate opportunities for rewarding employment and for realising their increasingly ambitious dreams.��
The informal sector and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector have the highest potential to generate employment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to remove the difficulties being faced by these sectors.��
In this context, I welcome the recent initiative of the CII to launch a nationwide campaign for skill development and productivity enhancement in these sectors.�
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Esteemed captains of industry, let me summarise what I have said so far in three affirmations.��
Can India achieve double-digit growth? Yes, we most certainly can. Indeed, we must if we want to make India a Developed Nation by 2020.��
Should this growth be inclusive? Yes, it has to be; otherwise imbalances in development will create more problems.��
What is needed for India to achieve double-digit inclusive growth? A culture of cooperation between the government and the opposition, a culture of partnership between the government, business community and people's organisations, and above all, commitment to good governance.�
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Jai Hind (as always)
Carlos�
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