India’s developmental philosophy has been very unique, unilateral and unanimous because it has the treasury of 130 crore dynamic population who are continuously endeavouring their energetic efforts to maximise the nation’s wealth and prosperity. But even after 70 glorious years of independence, India has been put under the racks of underdeveloped nations by the premier international institutions. Actually, most of the recognised international institutions classify countries into only two broad categories i.e. first developed countries and the other is under-developed countries and there is nothing like developing nation.
Since Independence, the consecutive governments have formulated diversified plans to accelerate the chronic stagnant growth rate and has undoubtedly shown few good signs too. But the highly diversified population, haphazard educational level, widening (im)balance of payment, huge fiscal deficit, regional imbalance, multi-level strategy formulation, stereotype behaviour has manifolded the challenges of the government. As a result, India’s socio-economical condition worsened in the late 1980s forcing the concern government to adopt New Economic Policy 1991.
The major reason behind such unnatural backwardness was simple and straightforward.
- Neglected Agricultural Potential :
On the eve of independence, almost 72% of India’s total population was directly or indirectly dependent upon agriculture sector and by tradition farmers were trained for such activities but parachute policy-makers subsumed agri potentials, and thus emphasised on promoting the manufacturing sector. In response, both failed to deliver desired objectives. Even today, agriculture potential are not tapped to its optimum resulting in rural backwardness, migration, inadequacy of raw material for secondary sector.
2. Per capita income and amplified population growth rate:
The income of Indians have seen an incremental growth which mainly resulted into raising the standard of living, buying behaviour and life style. But the rocket rate of increasing population has hampered the potential growth of enhancing per capita income of India. Today, India is the second most populated country in the world. However, the number of crorepatis have increased unprecedentedly but the overall per capita income growth has been not up to the mark in comparison to the developed countries or international standards.
3. Cross border terrorism:
India has been in the grip of Britishers for nearly two centuries followed by cranky neighbours.
At the time of partition, India has to face the destructive bloodshed from Islamabad to Delhi. Further, it has to shoulder three major wars with brainless enemy neighbours which lead to loss of millions of lives and property. Even though, India won these wars but it directly shattered the economic growth rate stability. Especially, the highly disputed Kashmiri issue. Kashmir was a heaven state but remained as locked godown just because of uninterrupted ceasefire violations from the opposite side of the border.
4. Education, health and R&D:
An effective and efficient educational structure provides a firm base for the budding assets of any nation. Surprisingly, the educated council of ministers of India has allocated a very small portion of its GDP on this vital sector.
Further, the success rate of any nation largely depends on its human capital’s health and wellness. Unfortunately, the consecutive governments have adopted a dramatic philosophy of disease curator not a disease preventer. In fact, a recent study has shown that almost 53% of India’s total population is still unaware about the fundamental health amenities.
As the fastest growing economy of the world, India is expected to constantly booast its focal on research and development programs but it is not enthusiastic as it should be.
Even today, government’s educational, health and R&D expenditure is well below the international standards.
5. Exclusive Growth:
India is a country which inculcates highly diversified cultural backgrounds like religion, race, caste, creed, languages etc.
India’s economic growth roadmap has been exclusive since Independence days. At that time, half of India’s population i.e. female were not entertained in the mainstream which simply indicates that India fled with only one wing and as convention even a golden bird cannot fly much with a fractured wing and India witnessed the same.
Eventually, India was very much unorganised in the name of religion and caste. They frequently fought in the name of Hindu- Muslim and Upper-lower castes. These well planned/ intentional fights lead to drastic bifurcation of even those 50% participants into different spheres. Hence, there was census but not consensus among the future human capabilities.
6. Tax-Avoidance
Most of the people in India expect Government to provide them with all the required services but are less bother to directly contribute such practice. The official population census 2011 reported India’s population to 121 crore. Ironically, till then, hardly 4-5 percent of them were paying regular taxes. Thanks to demonetisation and GST which has certainly raised this creeping numbers.
Surprisingly, the number of crorepatis and luxury car buyers have raised drastically but unfortunately official tax payers numbers are still well below the actual potential figures.
7. Social Welfare Development Parameters:
Unfortunately, India is facing worst ranking on many social welfare development parameters. Some of the key parameters are :-
(a) In World Happiness Index, India ranked 140 among 156 countries. Surprisingly, it was well below of Pakistan also.
(b) In World Hunger Index Report, India ranked as low as 103 out of 119 countries.
(c) In World Healthiest Nations, it ranked 120 out of 169 countries.
(d) In Human Development Index, India was placed on 130 rank among 189 countries.
For today, the above points simply indicate that India may be considered as a developing country but is certainly an under-develped nation.
As India is warmly celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary but it is the best time to recap the disasters we have made in past years which are hindering country’s growth and development. There are several untapped opportunities for modern India with an additional advantage of demographic dividend and if tapped properly, India will undoubtedly lead the world in the coming decades. This would be the real homage to the Mahatma.
Vipin Vihari Ram Tripathi
Chief Adviser
Finance & Economics Think Council
Banaras Hindu University
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