Millennium Man

Amidst fin de siecle cynicism about self-serving regional satraps, it is difficult not to be heartened by Vision 2020, Andhra Pradesh Chi...

Amidst fin de siecle cynicism about self-serving regional satraps, it is difficult not to be heartened by Vision 2020, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu8217;s blueprint for the next millennium. It is entirely in keeping with Naidu8217;s more popular titles 8212; the CEO of Andhra, the sultan of Cyberabad 8212; that his 350-page statement of intent to transform the state into a model for the rest of the country has been spearheaded not by bureaucrats in some local yojana bhavan but by management consultants at McKinsey.

Still, multinational-baiters would be hard pressed to find fault with the outlined targets: eradication of poverty and illiteracy by 2010; per capita income growth of more than 13 per cent per annum; 9 per cent economic growth; 11 per cent industrial growth and 13 per cent growth in the services sector. In essence, besides transforming the state into a software hub, Naidu claims he will deliver a SMART simple, moral, accountable, responsive, transparent government.

The smart politicianthat he is, Naidu must be aware that lofty sentiments require harsh, nuts-and-bolts strategies. After all, sustainable growth and eradication of poverty and illiteracy will require immense budgetary support for social welfare and increased funding for infrastructure. The magnitude of the challenge ahead is daunting: creation of 18-20 million jobs, 35,000 MW power generation, a 16-fold increase in the annual growth in the service sector 13-fold in industry and halving of the population growth.

In fact, it is estimated that 750 billion will have to be mobilised over the next 20 years, a good three-fourths of it from the private and foreign investors. Even if doubts about misplaced faith in these sectors are put to rest and the funds mopped up, a careful check will have to be maintained on a leaky implementation machinery to ensure that they are properly channelised.

Moreover, the implicit theme of the blueprint that the government retreat from large chunks of the economy could prove to be particularlythorny, provoking widespread confrontations with trade unions and inviting scathing ideological attacks.

Admittedly, commonsense dictates that short-term sacrifices and focussed soul-searching are imperative. The question is, can Naidu weather ensuing criticism in an election year? Given the fact that his Telugu Desam Party reaped electoral dividends from populist planks, can it entice voters with visions of a bountiful future and a tough present? Indeed, trouble is already brewing in the TDP camp, with Naidu8217;s brother-in-law, N. Harikrishna, leading the banner of revolt and castigating him for abandoning the Rs 2 per kg rice and prohibition planks. Sadly, there are more roadblocks ahead.

In a political system, where change of government inevitably heralds an abrupt burial of old programmes and policies, 20 years of dogged devotion to a single agenda defies probability. Even so, optimists can still hope: that Naidu8217;s two months of public debate on the masterplan will achieve a workable consensus; that thepeople8217;s representatives will rise above the politics of compulsion; that other states will follow suit.