PM Modi must focus more on Education, Health, Water Reforms and Jobs
- In Politics
- 11:39 AM, Aug 22, 2016
- Venkat Gandhi
Dear Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi Ji,
Indians know very well that you are very hard working and you understand a lot about India but Pradhan Mantri Ji by now we also know what you misunderstand! While people may be guessing many things, let me elaborate about what I alluded to:
What is expected from a PM by Indians in Governance is Simplicity and Clarity of thought and direction behind your governance to make all in the Government and public at large connect with the mission and ensure that it is achieved collectively.
With my limited understanding, I take the liberty to suggest what could be the Highest Priorities of Team India comprised of the PM + 29 CM's and 7 Lt Governors
1. Pani (Water):
- India has grossly underutilized and has even mis-utilized this invaluable natural resource. India is blessed with live rivers, thanks to Himalaya's in North and near live Rivers like Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadhi and so on
- Jalam Mulam Idam Jagat (Role Water Plays in Life and livelihood is enormous and the transformative potential it holds is proven time and again in history of India of the wealth creation in Andhra after Nagarjuna Sagar, Alamatti in Karnataka, Sardar Sarovar in Gujarat to name a few.
- From the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee the BJP has been talking about Inter Linking of Rivers with Limited Progress. I would like to highlight this concept too has lacuna as if the Linking is by Gravity Canals it will Divert River Water to the already irrigated areas in the other river basins and hence such Projects would not find favor by states. A classic case is How Godavari to Krishna Linkage thru Dummugudem - Tail Pond on Krishna was planned; Over 10,000 crore Rupees are to be spent in Telangana state with over 80% of water diverted to be utilized by Andhra Pradesh state Delta area. It already gets water for 1 to 2 crops may become 2 to 3 crops after such River Link.
- Instead the National Water Mission should be Lift and Link Water Surplus to Deficit Regions in India and deliver Potable Tap Water to every House and up to 5 acre irrigation water to every farmer. This way we remove the loss of human effort to access drinking water across India every day and bring new Irrigated agriculture land which increases the output and addresses the depleting water table problem. Just as the entire state of Gujarat has seen transformation after receiving the Narmada Water, same effect would be seen in all other water deficit regions of India
- The timing is right for this mission as India is blessed with Sun God and Solar Power Prices have become below Grid Parity now and cheapest source for future.
2. Padhai (Education):
- Unfortunately, the fruits of education have not reached more to all strata of the Indian society particularly in the last two decades due to withdrawal of state from the public education system and handing over the space largely by design to the private sector. They have converted it into a mega business with a mask of a trust managed institute! RTE too, instead of making FREE, Compulsory Equal Education for all Children of India, has actually enabled Un-Equal Education system by making it voluntary not mandatory with a huge difference between an International School and a Public School. Hence India has Created not just a digital divide but also the divide of Have's and Have not's. This can pose significant challenge as the grievance by the children of have not's who outnumber the have's may manifest in different forms that are hard to predict and be even harder to control.
- FREE Compulsory Equal Primary Education is Hall mark of Successful Countries in Modern world whether it’s Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China or US and EU countries. I am not aware of any Great Nation that has handed over Primary Education to Private Sector, I am ready to be corrected if any such country with size of at least 1/4 of India exists anywhere.
3. Dawai (Health):
- With change in life style, environment, food products, health challenges and health care costs have risen in every Indian's cost of living. Like in education, the space is completely conceded to Private sector with no universal health insurance system.
- I commend your effort in pursuing Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Although, some fundamental problems have to be addressed. There is gross inadequacy of Medical colleges in India. Public Health Care is to be beefed up to check the private health care costs and so they don’t spiral out of control.
4. Naukri (Jobs):
- While Make in India is a good Concept and the pitch is right, its achievement is not good enough primarily because of the Infrastructure. While a Great deal of work is under way on the Roads and Ports front, there is a fundamental problem of the manufacturing process and quality culture that companies face in establishing their businesses in India.
- The Manufacturing Skill Building Needs Help from Countries like Japan
- Government should set a Technology Fund with incentives to Transfer of Core Technologies to India.
- Sanction One Special Manufacturing Zone to each of the 29 States with Significant incentives.
- An Intervention by the Government of India is necessary to empower the Manufacturing Sector in India otherwise India will only be a Services Player and Market for Goods manufactured will remain abroad.
With Best Wishes and Regards
Venkat Gandhi
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