Enough of enumerating India’s problems. We need to enumerate solutions. We all know that there are two entirely different, parallel Indias. There is a disturbing divergence between the two. One India is progressing towards becoming a developed nation. The second India, rural and 70 per cent of it, is being bypassed in this process. It may have improved in that rarely are there mass famines. They have a roof over their heads, they are clothed and have food. But, beyond that, they are exactly as they were two decades ago. The fundamentals of basic necessities have been largely met but other basic necessities such as their environment and health are still wanting, almost no health care and poor education. There is a divergence instead of a convergence. Enough thought has been given to it. Enough has been written about it. The problem is understood many times over. But the implementation is missing. The time has come to take ownership of solutions and implementation. On the one hand, we are saying that India’s GDP is growing at 6 to 8 per cent which by any standards is a healthy growth. But, because we are starting at such a low level, if we are to catch up with the rest of the world, we have to drive the engine at 12 to 14 per cent growth. It is politically hazardous for governments to promise 12 to 14 per cent growth, because if it reaches 6 to 8 per cent, then you are considered a political failure. So the government is cautious. Officially, the government is saying 6 to 8 per cent is acceptable but in actuality it is necessary that the government push the drivers of growth, such as tourism, the software sector, industry etc. The government must assist them to achieve 12 to 14 per cent in the next five years.
