To dream on, or boast about, an impending so called ‘economic superpower’ status is one thing; to have it happen requires grit and determination on the part of India’s leadership. India as a nation is far from being healthy and now, we are told, it is one without even basic human empowerment. Its multitudes are struggling in poverty and want, and this is worse than the scenario as it exists even in the African continent, for which everyone has pity.
The latest proof of India’s abject failure in governance is the Human Development Index (HDI) released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which has put India at 130th position on a list of 189 nations.
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No nation can be strong as long as its people remain weak. Having a few corporate houses wallowing in wealth and setting themselves on a global acquisition or merger mission vis-à-vis widening their business empires does not by itself guarantee India a space of dignity in the comity of nations. Nearer home, China raced ahead with remarkably good governance. So did small entities such as Singapore and Malaysia, where the quality of leadership of the nation made all the big difference to life and the cause of human empowerment.
A Prime Minister drawing applause at the Madison Square, that too from a large flock of Indian community members, by itself does not mean India has acquired a star status. India is still failing to make a major mark, except than in its process of procreation with a billion-plus population bulge. India’s weak position is no secret. Our defence preparedness by itself is so uninspiring that, leave alone China, taking on even Pakistan is a hard task. When India’s neighbours built their military or economic muscle, India failed on both the fronts. Its people, the real strength of a nation, are collectively ailing from many a disease, and are failing to stand on their feet. Recent dramatic economic steps have all failed due to poor implementation and lack of sincerity.
The fact that the HDI released this time showed marginal improvement in the matter of human development does not speak well. The nation is still in its deep abyss. The five years of the Narendra Modi government, now in its last lap, have not made any significant improvements in the lives of the people. The Prime Minister’s powerful oratory by itself helped little to change the way India functioned. Rather, Modi has followed on the footsteps of the previous governments, feeding the people on regular diet of unfulfilled promises. Granted that “millions have been lifted out of poverty” in recent years, as the UNDP report noted, this is small comfort. Multi millions are still living on edge. The fruits of selective progress have failed to percolate down to their shanties, and the spectre of inequality reaching new heights, making the lives of the common man more miserable.
As the UNDP report noted, “The value of India’s Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) falls to 0.468, a 26.8 per cent decrease, far worse than the global average decrease in the global HDI value due to inequality at 20 per cent.” This, in simpler terms, indicates that while the rest of the world did well, in the parallel period India failed to grasp the opportunities. It required to do much better, especially in terms of life expectancy, health and education that formed the core parameters to gauge a society’s or human development in a certain geographical space.
It is time we Indians end this age of bluffing and face head on with the hard realities of life. There is no shortcut to success. It is essential for India to empower its people. Old prescriptions would not work anymore. New India requires a new leadership with a new frame of mind to tackle its problems; and with great seriousness. Big talks from the pulpit by themselves do not make a difference to life; the need of the hour is meaningful action with a visionary approach to issues. The big question is: Who will fit the bill? Unfortunately, by our excessive dependence on political leadership we have brought this situation upon ourselves. Until the people take charge of their own lives and stop depending on something or someone else to deliver on their behalf, the situation is unlikely to change.
