Make in India for the people and by the people

1. “Make In India” for the people and by the people
It is a welcoming decision that the Indian Prime Minister, Mr.Modi launching “Make In India” campaign on September 25, aiming to take manufacturing growth to 10% on a sustainable basis and to create more jobs. World’s top 3000 companies and Indian Embassies around the world are expected to join this.
In this regard, let us remind what our Industry experts say. There are four broad areas in which we need to prioritise our decisions and build for the future. They are: shifting the focus towards manufacturing rather than services; reliability before affordability of common man, establishing conducive regulatory environment and avoiding cynicism.
Shift Focus towards Reality
It is the time now to correct the trend and shift our focus onto the manufacturing rather than over- depending on the export of our services. India has to develop and become the best hub of infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, water, healthcare, telecom, banking, finance etc. A thorough approach to product innovation and design are essential to meet the aggressive price points. Till recent times, we have witnessed lack of political will for the known reasons of vote bank and coalition dharma/politics. The Government did not increase the prices/tariffs of various services (gas, power, transport, education) and continued to extend the subsidies and waiver of loans to certain categories (including so called common man) only to “mitigate the risk of losing the power” which caused ultimately stagnant of development.
Arise, Awake Common Man!
It is really sarcastic to find that said common man prefers far more expensive private solutions than paying the reasonable price to the Public Systems. Don’t you believe? Let us examine these. Common man pays over Rs.15/- per unit towards power from diesel-operated gensets; pays 3-10 times more towards his/her children education than paying to Government Schools; pays double the charge to paid-taxis towards local conveyance than paying to public transport; pays ‘n’ times more towards a packaged bottled drinking water than paying to water charges to the Municipal Corporations; pays double the charge towards the Gas Cylinders in block market than paying its actual cost to the Government; pays double the charge towards couriers than paying nominal postal charges to the Post Offices and so on and so forth. We prefer to sit in I, II and III ACs by paying thousands of rupees but not concentrate to upgrade the facilities in Sleeper Class/General Class. We prefer to pay more lodging charges than paying affordable charges at Retiring Rooms available in Railway stations. In no case, we do not think to improve, improvise and upgrade the infrastructure facilities at least for the next generation. Therefore, let us (Government and People) first focus on ensuring reliability even it if is at a higher price. However, the financial support must be given to all those who are really backward financially/economically but not on the basis of regionalism or casteism or majoritiesm to count more votes.
Only if people get to pay for infrastructure services, they can be built up in a large scale otherwise not. While the rich have their own personal arrangements, the common man does not.
Conducive Regulatory climate
Investors invest in a market where there is a risk in an uncertain world but definitely not in the unconducive market. Banker does not extend credit to the organizations whose debts are worth more than their businesses. For example, Vodafone case. Unless the Organizations get money, they would not be able to buy raw materials that they need to meet the demands of consumers in future. As a result, the number of consumers will be lowered in number over a period of time. Eventually, the Companies will be out of race in India thereby no increase in jobs.
Turn away from cynicism
A year of life of a youthful nation - that too at a growing stage – is not a small period. We wasted such precious years ..er..decades without taking any decision hesitating that it would lead to fail which, anyhow, ultimately led to indecisiveness. There will not be a single policy which is perfect and full- fledged. Every Policy or Regulation must be changed from time to time according to the situations, circumstances and more particularly priorities of the people. We should not let the cynicism to continue any more for the reason it may turn our human capital which we deem it an asset into a liability.
- Mangipudi Mruthyanjaya Rao, Manager HR and Admin, Hyderabad, India. raomangipudi@gmail.com