What Government Critics Don’t Tell you on TV Debates???

It appears from the criticisms of the opposition parties that they actually cannot find fault with any steps taken by the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi. They either rely on old data or refuse to see the changing landscape due to massive expenditure by the Union Government.

In many of the television debates that I have looked in, I observed that of the four panelists opposed to the BJP - it is invariably four versus one - all of them rephrase the criticism labelled by the first mover rather than coming out with something new. And when the turn of the BJP comes, they all shout loudly to ensure that the arguments or the facts do not reach the viewers. I often say that the opposition has developed the habit of looking into the wrong end of the telescope from where even your own skin would look rough and ugly.

Let us come to the first biggest criticism that the Modi Government has failed to create jobs. This lacks imagination, since jobless growth is not possible in a developing economy, more so when such massive expenditure is being undertaken by the Union Government. If the economy has grown at 7 plus rate for the last three years and inflation has been under check, some economic activities must have taken place to spur this growth. If the macro-economic indicators are good, micro-economic results will not be bad.

Perhaps the critics are relying too much on the data of the Labour Ministry. One must not forget that this data takes into account figures from economic activities in eight selected areas such as Textiles, Leather, Metals, Automobiles, Gems and Jewellery, Transport, IT/BPO and Handloom/Powerloom. Also, the sample size is too small - only 1,900.

The Indian economy is expanding fast and maximum employment is being generated in the new "dynamic sectors". For example, one needs to study the growth of economic activities in areas such as infrastructure, construction, and self-employment. It would be boring if I produce the entire statistics to counter the critics. However, some statistics would prove how off the mark they are.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Housing scheme), 85 crore man days of jobs were created in 2015-16 and 2016-17,compared to 25 crore man days during 2012-13 and 2013-14 under Indira Awaas Yojana. Under Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana (Roads), 53 crore and 40 lakh person-days of jobs were created in 2015-16 and 2016-17 in place of 41 crore and 90 lakh man days during 2012-13 and 2013-14. There were 11 crore and 50 lakh more of person-days of jobs when compared with the UPA. Similarly, Swachh Bharat Mission that focuses on building toilets created additional person-days of 36 crore. There are various other schemes that have generated crores of person-days of employment. On should know that there have been massive investment in Railways, National Highways, Urban Development, Cleaning of Ganges, etc.

In addition, one cannot ignore the focus that this government has on self-employment. Loans given to various entrepreneurs without collateral under the Mudra Scheme and Stand-Up Scheme demonstrate for the first time that the government trusts the poor. Those who used to depend on personal loans from the market at a very high percentage are now getting loans from the banks without much hassle. In 2015-16, close to 3.73 crore jobs were created under the Mudra Scheme. Another 4.29 crore was added in 2016-17. Thus 8.02 crore jobs were created. Significant is that this has led to women empowerment since women are in the preferred category.

One sure way to judge employment in formal sector is to study the number of employees contributing to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). By the end of March 2014, there were 3.26 crore people contributing regularly to the EPFO. At present, this figure is 4.5 crore, showing creation of 1.5 crore jobs in the formal sector.

The other major area for which the Modi government has been criticized is the plight of farmers. The solution to the distress of farmers lay in creating a network of irrigation system to decrease dependence on the monsoon. The Modi government's pro-poor policy should be seen in how it has empathized with their plights and taken steps to ameliorate their sufferings.

Long-term steps such as a massive expansion of irrigation system are already being undertaken. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been a success. Close to 1.72 crore farmers have already benefited under this. Farmers are being given liberal loans at a concessional rate of 3 per cent.

The compensation in case of death of a farmer has been increased from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh. In the last three years, the government has increased the allocation for MNREGA by 27 per cent. About 96 per cent of monetary benefits to farmers under various schemes of the Union Government are being directly put in their accounts in place of 37 per cent in 2013-14. Already, there is a determination to double the income of farmers by 2022.

Revolutionary has been the concept of soil health card for farmers. About 8 crore farmers have been issued this card by which they can know the productivity of their land and the kind of crop and the quality of fertilizers that should be used for that particular soil. In the last three years, 17,000 small and medium soil-testing laboratories have been set up. This number was a mere 15 in 2011-14.

Why are critics not appreciating these steps? Even some prominent economists are ignoring these facts, forcing one to wonder if they are ideologically so committed to opposing the BJP and Modi that they cannot see the various other steps that have brought the common person closer to the government and increased their stakes in good governance.

This is a fact that the entire opposition is suffering from Modi-phobia. They are privately conceding that the way the Prime Minister has been changing the face of the nation, it would be extremely difficult to dislodge him. Recent victories in local level elections and the massive victory in Uttar Pradesh have not come as a miracle. In their enthusiasm to criticise without a cause, they are unable to see that the ground beneath their feet is slipping.

Sudesh Verma

Do We Need Religion???

Religion in itself is no longer required. It has outlived its usefulness for mankind. Time was when man was savage and might was right. Religions brought in moral codes and taught between right and wrong with the backing of divine laws. But from the 18th century onwards, as nations and societies developed and civilisation progressed, constitutions were instituted which became sacrosanct in law. They cover all aspects of human behaviour and governance. They have clear guidelines on penalties and bring about equality in justice, establish liberties, authority and duties. Religion today has to take a backseat and often clashes with the law. It has in fact become an anachronism, backward looking and reduced to a mere framework of oppressive rules and regulations which is being exploited by clergy to keep the ignorant masses under subjugation and enrich themselves. Religion has lost its spirituality and become a business. All religions have degenerated into perverted forms of human slavery. Once you realise with your by now finely tuned sense of morality and ethics that the laws of today's nations are sufficient, religion in itself becomes redundant. You don’t need its framework anymore to lead a moral life or be a good human being. You don’t need to fall prey to the dastardly clergy to find your own spiritual peace and happiness in life.

Most intelligent (which is not to be equated with education) and deeply introspective people eventually realise that religion today has become a big con game. Far from enlightening us, religions today wish to keep us backward, isolated, ignorant and blindly obedient. It has become an opiate for the dumb masses and a tool in the hands of unreligious crooks. The most divisive factor in human civilisation is religion, the cause of wars, strife and suffering. More cruelties and casualties have been inflicted and more passions ignited in its name than wars, pestilence and patriotism combined. It instills hatred against other beliefs and faiths, thus becoming deniers of fundamental rights to others. Blind adherence to religion encourages further introduction of strange and illogical practices which are an affront to logic and an insult to human intelligence, besides having no connection to the Gods they profess to serve. Most intelligent people become religious rebels. Surprisingly all the prophets who came were rebels who came to overthrow oppressive "religions" of their time. Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, Ram, Moses, Guru Nanak and Zarthustra, all were rebels and free thinkers. If they were alive today they would denounce the way their messages have been perverted, distorted and misused. In fact they would encourage their followers to rebel and throw out the entire so called religious frameworks as they exist today, along with all those rascals who profess to being its preachers and guardians of your faith.

India is not a Great Country, and I am responsible for it…!!!

The title must have raised the eyebrows of yours but I will explain you why did I title it like that?

When we talk about Democracy, Democracy means the Rule of People. Every Individual should think feel that he’s the King or Queen. But along with it come Responsibilities. Just as we have Fundamental Rights in the section 51-A of our Constitution mentions that we have Fundamental Duties also. We never refer to that. Most of the people don’t even know that something like that exists in our Constitution. 

Some people say that I should write that “It’s everybody’s fault”. To which I say, “When I say Everybody, my responsibility reduces. When I take it upon myself and I believe every citizen should feel responsible for the flaws in India’s Democracy and the problems facing it.

Dear Reader, I had like to ask you, when we talk about corruption, we invariably blame our leaders or the administration, IAS officers or IPS officers, we say that they are corrupt. As if we are very clean. Is it right?? The people find it interesting to say that corruption should stop. But to do that, we will have to struggle. When we say that, we are the rulers, the rulers will have to do something. In my opinion, it has so happened, that we have become lazy citizens.

In my own observation, I have discovered that every Indian spends 8 hours a month just complaining. The roads are bad; the police take bribes. A particular Chief Minister is like that. The Prime Minister is quiet and all stuff. We say different things. I ask many people, you do this every month for 8 hours, Has it changed anything? The reply is No. I ask them Can It Bring about change? Again the reply is no. Then I ask them why they do it? Anyways, let them do it. But what do I do? Have I tried to do anything that would bring about some change in the country? I sat, at least for two hours in a month decide to do some work keeping the country in mind. If not anything else, just file an RTI application about something that is troubling you. It does make some difference. I believe that those who are proud of India, will have to do something. “Jinhe Naaz hain Hind par, Hindustan par, unhe kuch to karna padega.”

Democracy is said to government of the people, for the people and by the people. I don’t see such government, if I go looking. So what is this? Just we vote, just because there’s a Constitution, we claim to be in a Democracy. In fact, it’s a Vote-Shahi and not Lok-Shahi. Because, if I take the current political scenario, what is the argument doing the rounds? Some say Narendra Modi will fix things. Some say Arvind Kejriwal will, others say Rahul Gandhi or Nitish Kumar will. That’s the discussion. Nobody talks about that they will do. We say that we are in a democracy, but we are looking for a Messiah. There will be no Messiah. In a democracy, all of us will have to work. If we do not work, it will not be democracy. If want our country to improve, then it is our duty to improve our government. If we do not do it and continue to criticize, it is not going to make a difference.

I will once again say that it’s our fault as we don’t take the responsibility. Someone said this, “When I woke up, I looked at myself in the mirror. I tried to wipe the dust off the mirror and I kept trying. It was evening, yet I couldn’t get the dust off the mirror. It was night when I realized, that the dust was on my face, not the mirror.

People say that nothing can be done. Nothing can happen in our country. I tell this people, when you visit Temples, Mosques or Churches and come out, Do you find something in your pocket? Is there more money in your purse? Or do you start looking more handsome or beautiful? It does not happen. Then, why do people do it? Its’s out of Faith. You don’t see any direct result. What do we do for the country out of faith? NOTHING. At least try, just as a matter of faith. Think that, for our country, we will take up a cause. And pursue the cause, whether or not we succeed.

Let each one of us take up an issue however small it is, make it our own, nurture it and pursue it till it is solved. Then our country could definitely be much better.

I would change the title to “My India may not be great, but it will be and I will be responsible for it…!!! ”