The Government must concentrate on gradual but serious systemic changes to ensure reforms
On May 26 the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed seven years in office. For the first time since 1984 a single political party won absolute majority in 2014. The BJP improved its tally in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, the Shiv Sena and Akali Dal are no longer in the NDA. The BJP celebrated the occasion as 'service day'. This is the longest but a tumultuous period of a stable government in power. What does this 'service day' means for the common man?
Modi government have some solid achievements during the first term which got him solid support in Uttar Pradesh and other North Indian states and West Bengal. The linking of Aadhar card to mobile and bank accounts is a key achievementAnother was to open 38.35 crore 'Jan Dhan' accounts. The digitization of government departments and banks helped in checking grassroots corruption as money of more than 300 schemes is transferred directly in the accounts of the beneficiaries — the government saved Rs 1.5 lakh crore which otherwise would have leaked out due to corruption.
Eradicating open defecation by sanctioning toilets which along with 'Swatch Bharat Scheme' is estimated to have prevented three lakh deaths from water- borne diseases and "Ujjawala Scheme" under which eight crore households were provided gas connections won the hearts of rural people, particularly women. Kitchenswere made smoke-free. Rural homes enjoyed the luxury of toilets. It drastically cut the political base of caste-based opposition parties in the Hindi heartland. The 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme is unique which covers 50 crore population under one of the largest government-sponsored health programmes in the world. Fifteen more AIIMS were created and 157 Medical Colleges opened, increasing medical seats by 35,000. The government also started National Digital Health Mission for telemedicine.
The government had promised housing to two crore slum dwellers and so far 48 lakh houses had been constructed and more than a crore are under construction. The Mudra schme was launched to promote the young entrepreneurs to start their own ventures and so far more than 28 crore loans worth 14.9 lakh crore rupees were sanctioned creating 1.12 crore jobs.
The Goods and Services tax (GST) is the biggest tax reforms since independence and is now paying dividend. Yet another epoch-making reform was declaring triple talaq illegal -- opposed by the opposition, it was accepted by Muslim women. The one rank one pension in 2015, Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019 are two more successful schemes.
However, unemployment is still around 11 per cent thanks to Covid-19 pandemic. The doubling of farmers' income is still nowhere near the target and the situation was compounded by the stalemate caused by the farmers' agitation. The government first must concentrate on gradual but serious systemic changes to ensure holistic long-lasting reforms.The second is to make drastic changes in the health sector and move to universal health care like the one in Britain. A new comprehensive Act for the health sector needs to be enacted so that health infrastructure is modernized, monitored and is people friendly. Third, we need to provide best education to children by substantial increase in Navodaya type schools and creating infrastructure in government schools at par with public schools.
(The author is Chairman of Centre for Resource Management and Environment. The views expressed are personal.)
