Pragmatic ways to accelerate growth of India

S B Dangayach

In the current turbulent times. We are doing relatively better than most economies. With an effective and decisive leadership at helm combined with our fundamental strengths we are going to record a growth in GDP of 6-7%.

There are, however, many pragmatic India centric policies and actions that can add around 4% to annual GDP growth. Fortunately all these measures are going to need less of financial, material and energy resources but more of human resources that collectively are surplus in India in most segments.

Essential paradigms in overall plans

•Resource /capacity utilisation
•Resource efficiency
•Waste reduction /reuse/recycle /recover /recreate (5R principle)
•Integrated and holistic oil approach as against reductionist thinking and philosophy •Hardnosed and pragmatic approach from policy to action
•Calibrated reduction of subsidy in predefined years from launch to drive people to self reliance through hard and honest work
•Adopt maxim “Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam “everywhere

These steps are feasible in all domains and thus are easy to implement in near future.

Suggested steps for additional 4% GDP growth

1Utilisation of “wasted “lands
*Good lands that have not been used for last 20 years and will not be used for next 20 years to be classified as “wasted lands”
*Large parcels with govt ,trusts,temples ,waqf boards, churches, enterprises etc
*Allowing utilisation for designated purposes without change in ownership

2Leasing of wastelands to all for limited period
*Throw open leasing of wastelands for agriculture, dairying, animal husbandry,h orticulture etc to all
*Varying lease period for different activities

3Speedy clearance of building projects all over India that meet national building code or other rational rules
*Reform process of approvals of plans using technology and other means
*Reduce regulatory time and costs dramatically
4Awareness campaign for change in rent control act made in Gujarat state
*Exemption to all new constructions after 2011 and vacant old properties from rent control act *Need for massive awareness to bring large number of properties in rental market to improve housing or building situation and attracting investment in rental markets for all types of premises

5Flexibility in labour laws
*To give two options to future employees
-Employment with prevailing laws
-Employment without legal recourse of any type but carrying retrenchment allowance of 75 /90 days for each year or part of employment
*Conversion of contract workers doing long term jobs into regular employees with above options *Flexibility to employers to arrange skilling in relevant field and transfer as per needs of enterprise

6Skilling for all types of jobs
*Improvement and excellence needed for proper execution at all levels *Skilling to be encouraged using appropriate means
*Will improve quality, output and confidence of workers

7Higher priority to waste to wealth opportunities *Waste is a resource at wrong place
*SBA+ to be adapted and implemented aggressively

*Conversion of all organic waste into biogas, organic fertilizer, power etc feasible
*Policy for reuse of treated wastewater in place in Gujarat. To be reviewed and made practical for attracting enterprises
*Wasted talents in plenty in education to be harnessed for supporting education and skilling

8Increased thrust on renewables in energy mix
*Renewables now cheaper than fossils in many domains
*New models for decentralised distributed power using renewables feasible and to be supported all out
•Designing transmission infra time to handle mix of discontinuous and continuous power supply

9 Genuine support to MSME
*Micro and small nearly 99% of all in numbers providing employment to self and others
*Flow of funds to be proportionate to GDP and employment generated by them
*Encourage creation of plug and play modules with all clearances “for them by private developers or government for rental or ownership all over Gujarat. Will reduce investment and time to start business for enterprises

10 Boost to agri and rural enterprises
*Decentralised micro grids feasible. Energy economics now very different *Local cold chain facility using renewables or blended power now possible *Local processing, value addition etc to be given huge boost

11Thrust on tourism
•To be given high priority status
•To aim for 10 % contribution to GDP of India in 10 years

12 Revisit and amend existing schemes to improve implementation
•Many important schemes untapped due to impractical contents. Example -treated wastewater policy of Gujarat or SATAT of GOI.
•To remove anomalies and difficulties for quick adoption

13 Using technology to improve vital services like justice delivery
•Justice delivery a cause of concern
•E courts and other measures to reduce cost and time of delivery of justice to all people and enterprises

14 Thrust on preventive and promotive aspects of health
•Allopathy good in curative only
•Need to openly support AYUSH for preventive and promotive aspects of health
•Health and wellness centres to have dominant role of AYUSH
•Food and nutrition improvement as well as immunity boost through solutions in AYUSH

•Prorata support of funding, research, grants, promotion etc to be given to AYUSH

•To build plans around AYUSH +Allopathy or AYUSHA as limitations of allopathy are fully exposed

15 Support to open, blended and outcome based learning
•Paradigm shifts now in the way knowledge is created, transmitted and delivered
•Need to reduce cost and time for delivery of quality knowledge using technology and other means
•To reduce controls in process of education and skilling
•Instead go for outcomes and evaluation of learning by transparent bodies for certification
16 Importance to operation and maintenance in planning and execution
-Budget for operation, maintenance and upkeep of capital assets
-Lay thrust on carrying out proper operations and maintenance of all capital assets to enhance life and reduce overall cost of ownership
-Give boost to training and employment in this domain
-Give boost to circular economy and climate solutions

Conclusion
Since independence, we have followed prescriptions of the Western world-first a mixture of socialism, communism and capitalism and now neocapitalism. Our policies and programmes have been deeply influenced by Western schools of thoughts and consultants. In the process, we have not attempted to give attention to many India centric low hanging steps that are better suited to us and are in harmony with our needs. Partial list of simple, smart sensible, sustainable and spreadable ideas as given above can help in double digit holistic economic growth.

S B Dangayach
Founder Trustee
Innovative Thought Forum (ITF) sbdangayach@gmail.com
www.itf-india.com
+919998822680