Sunday, June 28, 2020

Atmanirbhar Bharat: From Slogan to Action





We Indians cannot be beaten by anyone in the world in planning. But every nation in the world can push us back in implementation. Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the mission announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 May 2020 to make India self-reliant may go in the typical Indian way. Continuous confusions and demotivations from some may prevent the mission in achieving its purpose fully. Albeit PM putting adequate precautions in implementing, achievement of the Atmanirbhar Bharat seems to be a Himalayan task like Make In India, Startup India; Standup India, Jan Dhan Yojana and other schemes. More than 112 schemes were launched by Narendra Modi government since 2014. There is a good progress in most of the schemes. But a revolutionary change is not coming. 


I am reminded of the Indian crabs parked in Bangkok airport in the 80s for an “International Crabs Exhibition”. Crabs from all over the world arrived in the airport and all of them were closed in their country specific containers. One container was left without cover. Curious onlookers were aghast and told the security guards that one container is left open. The security guards cooly remarked “Don’t worry. Those are Indian crabs. If one crab moves up, others will pull it down”. This may be a joke to laugh. But it is also a serious matter to be solved. We cannot be the world’s No.1 if we keep killing our schemes which can fastrack India’s progress.

History tells us that self-reliance has been a clarion call throughout the modern India. Swami.Vivekananda exhorted us to shun Western materialism and embrace Indian spiritualism. Mahatma Gandhi gave a call for Swadeshi products. Jawaharlal Nehru quickly built modern industries like Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Electronics, Heavy Vehicles Factory, Hindustan Aeronautical and many more, Indira Gandhi developed Green Revolution, Nuclear Technology and paved way for India to become an automobile hub of the world. Rajiv Gandhi indigenized computer and telecom revolutions. Narashima Rao triggered financial revolution. Atal Behari Vajpayee brought rural transformation and super connectivity across the country through beautiful super highways. Manmohan Singh triggered knowledge and rural employment revolutions.

PM Modi’s latest call for Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, a self-reliant India is a visionary mission with roots in Make in India scheme. Knowing fully well about world’s lookout for China alternate manufacturing hub, PM Modi timely announced Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat schemes. China has been the world’s supplier of all sorts of products for nearly three decades. China planned well and hit the headlines. World was not bothered about quality of the products but its rock bottom prices. Now people have started feeling the pain of low quality products. Moderately priced quality products are expected by the world. Keeping this mind, PM Modi announced Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat schemes. Now it is time to implement India’s “vocal for local” completely not just to boast about the glorious plans to become Atmanirbhar Bharat and India as the world’s market. Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan should not be another slogan as in the past.

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