Sixty years after independence, India looks a different country. Better or worse we need to decide. We also need to decide on a nation we will pass on to our next-generation. There are several challenges that need to be worked upon. Indian economy is growing but we need to take the entire populace along. Here are certain hurdles we need to set aside:

Face-lift of infrastructure:
That will be possible only when our infrastructure improves qualitatively and quantitatively. Our roads and bridges will need to match the best in the world. Our railways, already putting up a good show, will need to change tracks to take inland travel to the next level. The ports need an immediate face-lift to curb . Better connectivity will not just bring us closer. It will bring us closer to prosperity and progress.


Alternate power generation:
No nation ever becomes great while remaining energy-deficient. India must plan and build to become energy surplus. Non-conventional sources of energy will need to be tapped but what could lead us on the way to energy self-sufficiency is nuclear energy. The Indo-US civil nuclear deal could not have happened at a better time. This instrument of international energy cooperation must become India’s ticket to energy prosperity and therefore, economic development. Interestingly, this deal, when it comes into force, will run for 40 years. In 2047 India will celebrate its Independence centennial. An energy sufficient India will be a fitting gift on the one-hundredth anniversary of our independence.

Look East Policy:
It is said that the 21st century is the Asian century. India must learn to look east and west to its Asian friends to exploit the opportunities that the Age of Asia will throw up. For long we’ve been tutored to look towards the western powers for help, influence and succor. We must now work with the rest of Asia to enjoy the fruits of the continents’ growing power and influence.

Same law for all:
We must tirelessly build citizens’ faith in the rule of law. The rich and the powerful must not be allowed to twist the rules to their advantage and the detriment of the common people. We all remain equal before the law. Our judiciary needs to find a way to deliver timely justice to all. The backlog of pending cases needs to be cleared at the earliest, for, justice delayed in many instances is justice denied.

Do away with corruption:
Corruption is eating into our polity and society. Today, it is the single most important reason for people losing faith in the efficacy of our system. Though it may be a utopian thought to believe that one could root out all corruption from the system, but we must clamp down on it. The challenge is to find a way to make corruption unrewarding, a stigma for those who indulge in it.

Innovation for smaller enterprises:
Another hurdle faced by our businesses is low levels of research and development (R&D), limited access to technology and product innovations. The role of the industries in the national economy is very important, but the current understanding of R&D activities is much lesser than the understanding of similar activities of large multinational enterprises (MNEs). Smaller enterprises are still falling down on "innovative" R&D due to flimsy links between business and academic research. These sector can emerge as a breeding ground for innovation and technology development and can become the technology sources for larger companies if the government takes incentives for technology development to enhance their competitiveness.

Focus on Agriculture:
We are cutting our agriculture, food security, tradition and everything we got in past and we are trying to put forth as the developed nation with the American dream. It seems to be a dangerous situation for India. The Planning Commission of India knows very well about this crisis issue of poor agricultural growth. The government is trying to develop horticulture, food processing and organic agriculture and to increase the agricultural growth. Unless India considers Agriculture as a developmental tool for real development, they Indian economy will collapse in long term. The real growth of India lies in the establishment of rural economy based on Agriculture. Will the Indians traders, policymakers and banking sectors support for the sustainable agriculture growth with rural development strategies? That is the question we all should answer!

The future is in our hands. Tomorrow will depend on how we mold it today. The future is India's...let's work for that!

Mr. Rakesh Joshi

Joshi Enterprise

Manager, Joshi Enterprise
Dispur, India

Free Member, Joined :02/02/2007
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