The Opposition Politics-Rag-tag Ideas
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 10th June 2017
The ‘Opposition’ in India seems to have latched out on the Farmer’s agitation making loan waivers, its main plank. In the process, it seems to have spread itself perhaps too thin. No wonder it is seen/perceived as a struggling rag-tag especially the main party, unable to lead. Amongst its major failure has been its inability to force the Netas at the State government level to declare their report card. While the media has kept focus on some of Central ministries and probably on some state as well, however it has largely neglected many of those states going to polls. While picking up issue of Rural distress in line with Farmer woes and demand for Loan waiver which is sort of ‘instant gratification’ can rally people however it has its own attendant set of issues, unlikely to go much far. This also neglects a host of other members, which includes the landless labourers as a class that gets left out for the benefits, at least directly. These labourers would much more likely prefer a revival of housing construction market, since that segment is deemed as much more lucrative and where the demand can continue for a foreseeable future subject to some sectors picking up growth. That would cataputlt agri- demand as well as decline in supply of excessive and under-employed labour. In fact, failure to bring more people to access cheaper bank credit, so that some of these markets (for housing and associated infra) can revive would perhaps yield much more benefits but has been ignored both by the netas in government as well as in opposition (in states where they may have been in government).
While the attempts have been made to question the data released on MoUs with businesses in some states and on the lack of key flagship projects & programmes to bloom fully. Its strategy on Business streamlining measures seems to be confused. It went on to make a brouhaha over the ownership of GST idea and then subsequently, instead making noise on handholding of small business interest including flow of credit to them, it seems to be making all attempts to undermine is ‘claim to fame’ for ‘principle based politics’ and indulging in one-upmanship over the issue. Given the rising importance of SMEs in both urban and rural jobs, it should be clear that support to the sector would soon be more important to mobilize people and opinion, rather than the farmers who have a declining role in jobs including rural jobs. In fact the advent of electricity in rural areas followed by banks making presence would ensure that the rural industry/manufacturing/agri-processing as well as small commerce and businesses may continue to become stronger and thus neglect for the sector would only have diminished outcome in terms of votes. Greater penetration of the idiot box & other communication tools would also ensure that soon the rewards for ‘farmer’ mobilization and to the detriment of other important sections will start accumulating rather limited dividends in terms of votes although unlikely to become irrelevant anytime soon. Mobilization camps for small businesses to deal with taxes and other authorities as well as bankers (for credit), would soon start having much greater impact. Many of these areas are precisely where the government’s claim has been uncontested or if contested, then with rather specious arguments and little action plan.
There has been zilch support for rural water-bodies development that could help in irrigation especially in the unirrigated areas or any efforts to get hold on unscrupulous players selling unverified claims over seeds and other inputs. There have been little efforts spent on private money-lenders or the lack of organized micro-lending in rural areas. No effort seems to have been made by opposition to collect the health of government services in rural post-offices, health centers, schools, ration shops and like aanganwadis or Swachta Abhiyan from the Panchayats. The many different government agencies as well as lack of feedback mechanisms from the local leaders is amongst the chief causes of floundering of these funds. However the netas as well as bureaucrats continue to have little interest and the opposition so far has failed to keep itself from getting marginalized further by neglecting the very issues that brought them down. That continues to happen even as efforts are on to mobilize the netas and parties, and their lack of realization to understand address the ‘Game’ issues….
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 10th June 2017
The ‘Opposition’ in India seems to have latched out on the Farmer’s agitation making loan waivers, its main plank. In the process, it seems to have spread itself perhaps too thin. No wonder it is seen/perceived as a struggling rag-tag especially the main party, unable to lead. Amongst its major failure has been its inability to force the Netas at the State government level to declare their report card. While the media has kept focus on some of Central ministries and probably on some state as well, however it has largely neglected many of those states going to polls. While picking up issue of Rural distress in line with Farmer woes and demand for Loan waiver which is sort of ‘instant gratification’ can rally people however it has its own attendant set of issues, unlikely to go much far. This also neglects a host of other members, which includes the landless labourers as a class that gets left out for the benefits, at least directly. These labourers would much more likely prefer a revival of housing construction market, since that segment is deemed as much more lucrative and where the demand can continue for a foreseeable future subject to some sectors picking up growth. That would cataputlt agri- demand as well as decline in supply of excessive and under-employed labour. In fact, failure to bring more people to access cheaper bank credit, so that some of these markets (for housing and associated infra) can revive would perhaps yield much more benefits but has been ignored both by the netas in government as well as in opposition (in states where they may have been in government).
While the attempts have been made to question the data released on MoUs with businesses in some states and on the lack of key flagship projects & programmes to bloom fully. Its strategy on Business streamlining measures seems to be confused. It went on to make a brouhaha over the ownership of GST idea and then subsequently, instead making noise on handholding of small business interest including flow of credit to them, it seems to be making all attempts to undermine is ‘claim to fame’ for ‘principle based politics’ and indulging in one-upmanship over the issue. Given the rising importance of SMEs in both urban and rural jobs, it should be clear that support to the sector would soon be more important to mobilize people and opinion, rather than the farmers who have a declining role in jobs including rural jobs. In fact the advent of electricity in rural areas followed by banks making presence would ensure that the rural industry/manufacturing/agri-processing as well as small commerce and businesses may continue to become stronger and thus neglect for the sector would only have diminished outcome in terms of votes. Greater penetration of the idiot box & other communication tools would also ensure that soon the rewards for ‘farmer’ mobilization and to the detriment of other important sections will start accumulating rather limited dividends in terms of votes although unlikely to become irrelevant anytime soon. Mobilization camps for small businesses to deal with taxes and other authorities as well as bankers (for credit), would soon start having much greater impact. Many of these areas are precisely where the government’s claim has been uncontested or if contested, then with rather specious arguments and little action plan.
There has been zilch support for rural water-bodies development that could help in irrigation especially in the unirrigated areas or any efforts to get hold on unscrupulous players selling unverified claims over seeds and other inputs. There have been little efforts spent on private money-lenders or the lack of organized micro-lending in rural areas. No effort seems to have been made by opposition to collect the health of government services in rural post-offices, health centers, schools, ration shops and like aanganwadis or Swachta Abhiyan from the Panchayats. The many different government agencies as well as lack of feedback mechanisms from the local leaders is amongst the chief causes of floundering of these funds. However the netas as well as bureaucrats continue to have little interest and the opposition so far has failed to keep itself from getting marginalized further by neglecting the very issues that brought them down. That continues to happen even as efforts are on to mobilize the netas and parties, and their lack of realization to understand address the ‘Game’ issues….