By Sourav Mishra:
Every day I receive many messages about how the Congress did nothing in 60 years and how the current government is the best government. While there is no doubt that Narendra Modi is the only person who can carry the nation on his shoulders, we must not forget all other aspects related to our government. Following our government blindly can only lead us to a dark phase.
Demonetisation of ₹1000 and ₹500 notes has stirred up the entire nation and mostly poor people have been affected by this decision, especially by its implementation and timing.
In this article, I have written on demonetisation and about the political situation in our country.
According to the 2011 Census, India has a population of 53.7% which is below 25 years of age. Demonetisation has temporarily resulted in less demand, decline in manufacturing, lesser growth rate and job creation.
According to this report in The Economic Times in 2012, 93% of Indian workers were part of the unorganised sector. They didn’t have a regular or fixed income and demonetisation has severely affected their life.
The time of demonetisation is a major issue. With the sowing season of Rabi crops around, lack of cash has caused huge losses to farmers. Daily workers, the ones without bank accounts and medical patients are facing the heat but they don’t have WhatsApp or Facebook to express their grief.
According to the Prime Minister, the government had planned this demonetisation for 10 months. Yet, there is still chaos all around. It is evident when the government changes its policy regarding cash exchange and withdrawal on a regular basis since the announcement.
Boosting a cashless economy after demonetisation helps in achieving its goal. Yet, according to this article in The Indian Express, India has a share of 43% of the total number of dormant bank accounts in the world. India has 190 million dormant bank accounts. Around 272 million people in India are illiterate. Even though the United States of America is in a lot better condition in terms of infrastructure and population, many still use cash. In a country like the USA there are electronic frauds as well. If India goes cashless without proper planning and incorporating sufficient security, the situation can become worse.
Despite all this, the people are still supporting the government. But the truth is that thousands of farmers have committed suicide. According to an RTI response by the Reserve Bank of India to The Indian Express, government banks wrote off a total of ₹1.14 lakh crores, which is much more than what they had done between 2004 and 2012.
Have a look at some of the UPA government schemes – National e-Governance Plan , Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY), Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana (RGSSBY), Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. Schemes by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government – Digital India, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Swacch Bharat are renamed, repackaged and relaunched programmes of the UPA government.
UPA government introduced MNREGA and the Aadhar card. But at that time, the opposition led by BJP opposed both. Even after taking oath as Prime Minister, Modi criticised MNREGA and now he has made Aadhar card compulsory for many government schemes.
According to a report by the Labour Bureau, unemployment rate in India has shot up to a five-year high of 5% in 2015-16, with the figure significantly higher at 8.7 per cent for women as compared to 4.3 per cent for men
BJP opposed 49 % FDI while in opposition, but now they have introduced 100% FDI in many fields. Despite FDI and the Make in India campaign, India showed marginal improvement this year in the ranking of ‘Ease Of Doing Business Index 2016’ released by World Bank.
When in opposition, the BJP targeted and labelled the then PM as the weakest PM over ceasefire violations. There have been ceasefire violations in the last two years as well. One of the achievements of the BJP government is the surgical strike done by the army, which government claimed to be the first of its kind, but several reports and military officers have made it clear that even under the UPA government, the army had taken part in such strikes.
Now, those who say that nothing has been done in the last 60 years should ask a simple question. How many dams, bridges, roads, ATMs, banks, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, trains, airports, satellites, educated people, malls, towns, industries, and PSUs India had in 1947 and what does it have now?
People should not forget all these works done by previous governments. [envoke_twitter_link]Comparing NDA with UPA makes no sense because UPA has faced consequences of corruption[/envoke_twitter_link] and the loot it did. But it is time to judge and think about the NDA government based on its promises and actions. I am not an expert but if actions by our PM can make us achieve our dreams as a nation, I will be as happy as any Indian.
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