Development Planning: Repeating Mistakes

Many people on the media and elsewhere commented about failure of the 'wada na todo' abhiyan wherein Governement of India aka the Planning Commission took help of civil society in generating the mood of participatory process in planning for the 12th Plan. The activists, intellectuals and organisations who participated in the activities cried foul the way the approach paper dealt with the issues concerning serious for the effective and 'inclusive planning'. Given the election centric planning in India what more could have be apt to follow what politics of the nation dictates. We the people of India were repeatdly promised moon even though we fail to generate enough food and water for our people. India is going to urbanised and industrialised further in the coming periods, we fail to address the need for the food security except the pending bills, the spatial planning through the regional approach takes back seat, where in budgetory planning remains at the peak.

One can only assume the economist centric planning strategies has limitation even though they might claim to have reduced poverty which is statistically remains insignificant given the failure to reduce the income disparity. The HDI report suggest the improvement in the vital indicators but experts have suggested that we might miss most of the Millineum Development Goal (MDG) target set for 2015. The lagging states even though have steamed up their performance much needs to be done to eradicate abjuct state of apathy in many socio-economic indicators. Why developed states like Gujarat performs poorly in education and health where as the lagging state move faster to bridge the difference. The theory taking roots that economic development does not guarentee the social development, then what more the planning approach is going to acheive. The declining small and medium town through out country presents grim picture for the ever increasing urbanisation in the country. The lack of development for the improvement in the quality of life in these urban centres are bringing the investment elsewhere for creating new urban areas adding to the urban chaos.

Planning commission needs to leave certain planning to the state and local bodies let the spatial planning for the regions being made based on the scientific investigation before any investment plan being materialised for the region. The huge program investment in the way of MNREGA or the watershed development cannot happen without specific planning for the region, otherwise planned efforts would have negligible impact.

Year ending greetings 'Corruption' Nahi Ruka

At the beigning of the year it was felt like this year 'corruption' in India would face stiff challenge from the civil society. But kudos to the eminent politicians both from ruling as well as opposition, it raked mullah to be talking about 'corruption' yet life must go on with all the goodies. I did take off Green Eminent from the regular consulting assignment in order to rethink about the strategy to present as accepting corruption as speed money or come out on street along with others. Neither of these two goals could be acheived. Many 'Anna type' thoughts did emerge eventually aided by media and actions of stakeholders I too decided to let this phase pass by inaction, which I know would lead to more corruption. Some excitement with going at the central and state level, when their crime did result in some warning or punishment to erring politicians. Some look very smart like Suresh Kalmadi, Raja, Kanimozi, CM Modi, Amit Shah etc. but most of politicians played poorly in addressing the situation.

Most predictors and story tellers have cited year 2012 to be worst causing immense danger to mankind. Already happinings at the climate change debate, crisis in Europe, America, Middle East and Asia (political) might find them right. Though one would not say it should be true prediction, as it happens it would keep media and people busy in attending their family and friends better.

Who wants to do business here anyway?

India has been ranked 134th out of 183 countries for the 'ease of doing business', tought for the analyst who think India has globalised and libralised from red tape since last two decades. The poor performance emerges from the lack of sanctity of the contract system between the players. Be it corruption or speed money this is rocking the business world in dealing with Indian system of functioning. No matter what we do, it is failing in keeping the promises. The example of Common Wealth Games (CWG) mired with controversies refuses to pay to its international suppliers, coursey, Kalmadi and Co. The 14.0 Lakh crores worth MoU signed in Gujarat, would take years to materialise, the system is pathetic. The small and medium enterprise cannot think to survive in this scenario. Govt and their department just does not hounour the contracts, it takes numerous communications to get through your money.

As someone rightly points INDIA is business logic ' I'll Not Do It Again'.

Even though Anna's anti graft movements has raised the corruption, this Diwali could not be less merrier for the Govt. officials, who lapped up gifts, with both hands. Some even heard to have supplied gold and silver bars to the state secraterate in Gujarat. Just to boost business the gratidute is given to the babus and political masters, to ensure your ability to do business in India. The state govt's is also no exception in accepting the speed money from over the table in country. The fearlessness of the system would not go just because Anna and Co wanted, because it feeds on self, the system is prone to such attitude.

India cannot expect to have 'Arab' revolution or Capturing of Wall street, we can at best 'tweet' to rest in our residences, allowing the poor traffic walas to take his share of cake. The political system right from the local councellors to the state cheif, is marred with steep rise in rates post diwali asking for more. What they say of Anna, thats for his carrier and people who join them, we raise the toast. Alex says, 'Those who wonder where are the corrupt persons, we all must say, its here..its here..its here'. Amin!!

The dance of capital in Globalised world continues..

The billionare lists prepared with much funfare world over, has made true joke of the present economic crisis in the US and Eurozone. The capitalists continue to maximise their wealth not loosing sleep over the present crisis. The recent news about Hindujas Manson in UK and million dollar, CEOs and professionals salaries in top companys would make the rest of world and country envy about their position. Its given same explaination that these neo-rich work harder to have earn their rights to encash their labour, the maximum of ownership even in this era of public companies not being corrected. The capturing of the wall street in US by commoners is representation of the growing antithesis about the march of capital. But these efforts in the US can not be equalled to what is happening in Egypt or Libya. At least they had targetted the persons who not only cornered the money but has dominated their life ever. The new capitalists also dominates but through its art and science of capturing the market, this would often create and positive sense. People in general are not averse to these, only they become jealeous for the targets capital which they themselves would not be able to acheive.

India, has also thrown the billionare club and more so is joining, some by their right while they own (??) a large public enterprise and some by their might. Among such is the liquor barronm Mr. Mallaya refuses to be mowed down by present aviation crisis, would bend the governments to facilitate his exit from the situation. It is clear that they have mismanaged their economic interests in businesses, would now force the government of India to garner more funds from the across the world, thus inviting the MNC to take over. Why such bending of rules or facilitating them is evident, ya we all know they run the government in proxy.

Capital has helped the political Class. They have printed hoardings, put politicians on charted flights to world trip, played in casinos to encash their fortunes, helped most of them to open Swiss Bank account. Why would then they keep silence on the any wrong doing by fleecing the consumers, land owners, financial institutions and governments at local level. They do not see existance of city government, only interact with the PMs and head of state. Their art of negotiation with the government is immense, as if they belong to different breed and have special citizenship status in country.

A normal citizen would have end number of difficulties in getting into the government headquarters whereas these neo-capitalists would sit in their offices, car and residences just because they belong to their place. Rest do not matter.