An important task before the next Government at the Center will be to address the unemployment problem which is quite serious. The NSSO data recently released show that jobs in the country increased by merely 2.2% per annum during the period 2000-2012, which is abysmally low. In the agricultural sector there is hardly any growth of jobs during this period, despite highly adumbrated MGNREGA, where not only payment default is a constant factor but corruption and nepotism too. Manufacturing jobs have increased by lowly 4% per annum, one reason perhaps being the growth of this sector itself is laggard. Of course, jobs in construction works have increased by 17%. But such jobs may not provide permanent employment. Here rhetoric will fail if blueprint for program is not ready. India is one of the developing countries where more than half of the nation’s wealth is concentrated in a few and the other half is unequally distributed to the rest of the population. It has increased after liberalization. Delivering the Richard Dimbleby lecture in London last year, Christine Lagarde specially stressed on inclusive growth saying that more inclusion and opportunity in economic life also means ‘less cronyism and corruption’ and that this must rise to the top of policy agenda. Let the next government sincerely address these issues. It is not just a question of turning right or left, it is ultimately the question of the people’s happiness. Inclusive growth is the mantra; inclusive growth involves vertical and horizontal growth, wiping out of poverty and balancing of economy to remove regional imbalances. When a country uses its resources to produce wealth it must get distributed equitably amongst all sections of people. Some remaining perpetually hungry and some going overfed is not a sign of balanced growth of an economy.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:41:03 +0000
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