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    Ten ways to ensure sustainable well-being of all and an inclusive India

    Synopsis

    Covid-19 & Ukraine crisis have threatened the gains made in poverty reduction over the last decade; Ease of Doing Biz should also have a thrust on being in top-50 on Human Development by 2047.

    Ten ways to ensure sustainable well-being of all and an inclusive IndiaAP
    Inequalities need to be addressed more directly.
    The Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis have made the gains in poverty reduction in 2011-2019, fragile. As the Inequality Report points out, if you earn '25,000 monthly, you are in the top 10% of earners! High inflation hits the poor the worst. Employment is increasing but not fast enough. While agriculture has been a source of employment in Covid-19 times, there are many youths displaced from agriculture and whose aspirations are in manufacturing and the services sectors. The IT sector has expanded but skill set issues needs to be addressed.

    Rising cost of living and increase in LPG gas price, have meant tough times for poor households. With India's public debt already at 90% of its GDP, there is barely any fiscal space to expand expenditure to enlarge demand. Everyone is hoping that the infrastructure pipeline and PLIs will help growth. While India has done better than most countries on growth and inflation, the fragility of those on the margins of slipping into poverty makes the challenge formidable. Business will not deliver the kind of inclusive growth needed to sustain the gains of poverty reduction. While continuance of free ration schemes may have helped households in foodgrain security, it is not enough to keep them in a state of well-being.

    Inequalities need to be addressed more directly.

    Firstly, schools and skill programmes have to relate to every village/urban cluster on priority. Local governments, SHGs, cooperatives have to be engaged in the management of these programmes. Hybrid learning support through interpersonal and digital needs to be operationalised immediately. Engagement of youth in skills with support for IT-based hybrid learning is needed. Panchayats and local governments must help in improving schools and skills. It is not a time for top-down reforms. Local government grants could focus on education, health and nutrition.

    Secondly, the infrastructure pipeline needs community-led partnership for speedy rollout. Localisation of work opportunities in highways and other construction need to be explored. Tasks can be assigned to local women self help groups, cooperatives and panchayats. Many infrastructure programmes do not internalise the 'whole of government and whole of society' approach. The Corporate Social Responsibility of companies should help in the holistic development of local communities. Gati Shakti initiatives and internet connectivity thrust can be speeded up.

    Thirdly, there needs to be focus on some local infrastructure in tier-two and three cities. Identify the missing infrastructure coming in the way of 'one district one product' or other high quality production centres.

    Fourthly, the Finance Commission has already argued for panchayat-led primary healthcare in rural and urban areas. Investment in developing an HR continuum for ASHAs becoming nurses and ANMs, is a good idea. Urban primary healthcare needs immediate augmentation and human resource thrust. Uninterrupted drugs and diagnostics and linking every household to a local nearby primary health facility will help reduce costs to poor households. Campaigns like Gram Swaraj Abhiyan to ensure that pro-poor public welfares reach the urban poor is needed.

    Fifthly, it is time that serious thought is given to the growing inequality. It is the state's social responsibility to ensure that financial resources are put to optimal use. There is a strong case for higher taxes on the very rich bracket.

    Sixthly, greater effort at ownership of states and local governments for new initiatives is needed. Niti Aayog needs to play an important federal role by actively engaging with states for faster implementation of infrastructure projects.

    Seventhly, a village or an urban basti needs to be developed as a unit for monitoring the impact of all interventions.

    Eighthly, the flow of credit to women in SHGs and community institutions whose bad loans are low, has to be ensured. Joint Liability Group financing where social capital exists, will facilitate more diversification with scale for local products. Financing Street vendors need to be deepened. Community monitoring and social audit have to be institutionalised in all state expenditures.

    Ninthly, it is time workfare programmes are designed as local infrastructure programmes in rural and urban areas, with use of machines and semi-skilled labour for efficient use of public resources. Creation of water bodies, Anganwadi buildings, schools, local market places, local level infrastructure can be part of local workfare programmes with thrust on infrastructure.

    Tenthly, a review of PLIs is needed to ensure that no subsidies create a disincentive for innovation and cost reduction in the name of atmanirbharta. Scarce public resources must secure value for money and growth. Enhancement of pension for the deprived old, widows and Divyang, need to be supported for maximum social protection.

    An 'India for All' needs a 'whole of government, whole of society' and a community-led action with local-level monitoring of performance. Our quest to scale up the Ease of Doing Business should simultaneously have a thrust on being in the top-50 on Human Development by 2047 as human development alone paves the way for economic progress. Providing opportunity for all in developing their full human potential is the only pathway to sustainable well-being of all and an inclusive India.


    The author is a retired civil servant with interest in social sector


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