Rewind. Stop living in the past, look to the future

One cannot drive a vehicle, much less a country, looking in the rear view mirror; one has to look ahead. India has far too many problems to grapple with to prepare itself for the future.

Poor job growth to meet expectations of a rising young population, scarcity of water and a choked judicial system that fails to deliver justice fast enough are just three of them. Yet, our polity continues to look back into the past and continues to divide society on the lines of caste, creed and religion.

Last week, it was another corruption scandal, that of the purchase of VVIP helicopters, that blocked work in Parliament. A judgment of an Italian High Court ostensibly has, in its evidence, the names of senior politicians of the UPA.

Mention of this in the Upper House created a furore. The raising of these issues can be expected to stall parliamentary proceedings, including the much delayed GST Bill, a piece of legislation that would help the economy by easing trade, but which is stuck on the anvil of political egos. Now consider some of the issues politicians ought to be discussing.

New technologies are enabling machines to replace humans in millions of jobs. Instead of job growth, there is de-growth. Yes, it is also true that these new technologies themselves will throw up new job opportunities, but for this, skill sets will need to be built. This is why institutions that can impart new skills are important and parliamentary attention needs to be devoted to them.

All jobs will be under the threat of technology, even farming, which employs over half of India’s population.

The US economy, the world’s largest, is already at a stage of farm mechanisation where only 2 per cent of its population is engaged in farming, but produces enough to feed the nation.

India, which has half its population engaged in agriculture, needs to develop its own model, for which parliamentarians need to spend their time discussing solutions instead of squabbling like recalcitrant children.

Poor water management thanks to inept governance, and the electoral promises of free power, have led to a severe water crisis over large parts of India. Water-guzzling crops like sugarcane, which cannot be grown in arid regions, are encouraged to grow, thanks to free and subsidised inputs like electricity and water.

These policies have been made for the benefit of a few politicians who own sugar factories, which have led to water scarcity for other crops and for some, who, to add insult to injury, have set up the business of water tankers to meet the shortage! Israel, a much smaller country, has solved its water problems using technology, which it is offering India. India should take up the offer. To conserve water in farming, Israel has developed, and uses, drip irrigation. Indian politicos, to get elected, promise free electricity for pumping water, resulting in a lowering of India’s water table to crisis levels. Israel has set up desalination plants to produce water; India, with plenty of rivers, is mismanaging God-given resources. Instead of hurling insults and furniture, parliamentarians ought to discuss solutions for our water crisis.

The Chief Justice broke down whilst talking of paucity of judges. That much is true. What is also true is the ease with which judges permit ‘adjournments’. Why not restrict adjournments to one or two per side, as is being done in all countries, and speed up the delivery of justice, instead of pleasing the culprits by granting them adjournments? It would be a sad day for the country if sensible economic reform becomes a sacrifice for political expediency. Alas, that seems to be where we are headed. If so, the market may head down, until politicians learn to place country above self.

The writer is India Head, Euromoney Conferences

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