The Election that Changed India

Book Review: Non-fiction/2014:The Election that Changed India by Rajdeep Sardesai, Penguin/Viking, 372pp; Rs599 (Hardback)

Seasoned journalist Rajdeep Sardesai’s 2014:The Election that Changed India is compiled to give the perspective and remedial thoughts, how elections in India are now much more complex than the conventional tussle of ballets. However, it would be a hurried effort in reckoning that all the changes happened only through 2014 elections – earlier too, we saw how ‘born-to-preach’ troops of advertisers mislead the actual issues and slogans, especially since 2004 parliamentary elections.

Advertising is an old phenomenon in Indian politics, however the matter couldn’t be put on rest without admitting the increased effects lined up through real-time sell of ideas or dreams. This book’s heart of matter is placed to capture the unprecedented shift in poll campaign strategy and the devious role played by the Media& PR Network.

Indeed this time, the Congress Party lost the election before it entered the electoral fray and the Modi as ‘factor’ emerged there to establish a new identity, with an unimagined might in terms of numbers in Lok Sabha. Rest, all is history.

Sardesai’s book unleashes his personal experiences vis-à-vis the political developments in the country of over two decades. While doing this, he maintains the depth of political storyteller as well as of an election historian. Remarkably, the historians in India have given writing on elections amiss – somehow, the hacks roving inside the country have contradicted that trend on occasions.

In recent years, those lots of journalists have been strengthened with advent of electronic media. Nevertheless, a full-fledged book on the election and with the depth this book has, is quite rare to see in other works surfaced. Through the richness of anecdotes and balanced interpretation of truths, Sardesai’s maiden voyage of book-writing charts a territory so far not covered in his columns. This, as the narrative is candid, firm and timely.

The most interesting parts of the book recount the blunders done by the UPA regimes and how the desperations of people converged with their aspirations. Amidst those unrelenting movements, the Congress chosen to do what it was doing for a decade – no action or relaying less-pragmatic voices.

As other parties except the BJP was on the same page, the outcome of the elections was almost decided before the polls. However, the common masses of this nation did not know the extent of victory would be such miraculous. The book covers in details of ‘why& how’!

Sardesai’s early encounter with young Modi (then, Narendra Bhai for the journalists) in 1990’s and their first show on Tv after the 9/11 incident (Modi came as replacement from his party) – show how restless the later was to grow full-circle. Besides introspecting the hard realities of Gujarat Roits and how Modi cornered the existing state leadership right after taking charge as chief minister of Gujarat – the author has also not forgotten to count the sensibilities of the protagonist.

Even-though not consistently in sync with stating ‘beyond the obvious’ – Sardesai’s book never falls short on giving the readers, both information and insight about the resurgent India that has been a victim of lackluster governance and not so responsive polity.
-Atul K Thakur
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
(Published in INCLUSION)

India's Administrative System: An Unresponsive Frontier

Book Review, Politics Trumps Economics: The Interface of Economics and Politics in Contemporary India by Bimal Jalan and Pulapre Balakrishnan (edited), Rainlight/ Rupa, 2014; pp 211, Rs 500

It was felt and highlighted that the ‘policy paralysis’ and lack of reform impetus in macroeconomic policies led to the downward spiral in the business and mass sentiments, eventually led to an alarming level of deceleration in economic growth. The UPA-II regime was blamed for that, which was justified to an extent too, but somewhere there is a need is to see the real stumbling blocks.

Foremostly, it has to be admitted that India’s administrative system has become largely non-functional and unresponsive to the interest of the masses. The book under review precisely focuses on this crux of the problem through twelve essays from some of India’s leading policy practitioners. Moreover, the central mandate of the anthology exudes at patches and in full, the well-meaning vision of its editors.

Bimal Jalan in his different administrative capacities has seen the administrative structure of this country from close quarters, and Balakrishnan – with long affiliations with policy matters is equally capable to comment on what ails the delivery mechanism through the administrative routes and where the two other arms, ‘legislature’ and ‘judiciary’ are faltering.

As the purview of governance is no longer limited with the government alone, the essays in the book put forth a deserved emphasis on ‘corporate governance’ and infer that various practices in big business are in urgent need of correction too.

T.T Ram Mohan’s piece Corporate Governance: Issues and Challenges is one that gives topical insights on the theme. He writes, “A certaincynicism has crept into the debate on corporate governance. There is a sense that, as with corruption, it is something that people will keep talking about without anything substantive happening on the ground” – this captures the views of an average citizen vis-à-vis the interventions of the government. Seemingly, it is harrowing.

The “Overview” in the beginning of the book by Bimal Jalan brings to the fore his suggestions for ‘political reforms’, besides economic and administrative reforms – to reduce corruption, the power of small parties to destabilise multi-party coalitions and attractiveness of politics as a career for persons with questionable antecedents. Indeed, without a reformed culture of politics, it is naïve dreaming for the fruits of economic reforms and that too with equity.

Pulapre Balakrishnan’s Governing for an Inclusive Growth is about addressing the challenges of delivering social justice in India today and it rightly argues for governing policies towards that end.

The other essays by Meghnad Desai, Dipankar Gupta, Poonam Gupta, Ashima Goel, Samuel Paul, Ravi Kanbur, Sunil Mani, M. Govinda Rao and Deepak Mohanty – though with varied level of interpretations, fit enough to be catogarised into three broader sections of the book: politics, governance and policy.

Their focus is on the interface between politics and economics in India, which actually determines the path of progress for the country. This book should be of interest for anyone, who has enthusiasm for the policy matters and knowing about the fast changing form of politics, governance and economic processes in India.

The flurry of activities on the land is unprecedented and hence intriguing too, with keeping the challenges upfront for the policymakers and those who are getting governed to reach a consensus. Albeit that part is tough and probably difficult to come in terms with – this book certainly makes our understanding better on the whole issue.

The essays more than modestly also offer impressionable solutions to end the menace of corruption and for achieving inclusive growth – this comes while discussing among others, the pressing issues related to the coalition government, the rise of new politics (through civic activism), the growing inequality, alienation, the contradiction between identity politics and development.

There is so much happening in India on the policy front, and a single book can have only restricted overtures with those churnings. Given this backdrop, Politics Trumps Economics is a valuable addition to the policy studies and has comprehensive prescriptions for the general readers, who are equally in need of knowing their country’s ongoing tryst with destiny.
-Atul K Thakur
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
(Published in INCLUSION)

An Activist Police

Amitabh Thakur {now only Amitabh} exudes courage and integrity-a mechanical engineer from IIT Kanpur, who left the chance to join Indian Revenue Service/IRS in 1991 for a challenging career in Indian Police Service next year . Presently pursuing fellowship programme in management from IIM Lucknow, this UP Cadre IPS officer is also a co-author of book on entrepreneurship, The Fresh Brew…besides that he is also serving as President with National RTI Forum, which was founded by him with doubtless commitment for transparency in public life. Like a true activist police, he is quite sanguine about the glimmering Right to Information…both as administrator and an activist, he sees RTI as empowering tool for governance. Recently we had a substantial talk in Delhi which finally appearing here as interview…

Q: - You joined IPS in 1992, and then your choice was as transient as was the economy of India. With an IIT degree in hand, why you only aspired for IPS?
A: - It was a tough decision to go against the stream but my aspirations were strong…my first choice was to join IAS, which didn’t materialize, so I opted for my second dream-IPS. These two services give the proper opportunity to assimilate with peoples and to be proactive part of machinery.

Q: - You were never a camp follower and always defied the aegis of protection, likes of caste, religion or any other hide bound categorization-how you with fallouts?
A: - Until I joined IPS in 1992, I was largely unaware about the actual equation on which systemic function rests…later I came to know how even the battered parochial views could be thrive under the strength of cronyism and influence the entire machinery. A duty bound officer like me who runs without any sanctum faces many hurdles from opposite camps with vested interest to make the system vulnerable. During initial years of my service in eastern UP, I had to confront many such grim political pressures but outgrowing the intermittent adversities, I saved my integrity.

Q: - What’s your view on Police-peoples interface and overall reform in Policy system?
A: - I support maximum participation of peoples in maintaining law& order…there must be use of local wisdom and expertise in any form of governance. So, interface is essential…yes, Police reform is the need of hour. It should be start from introducing new human resource policy and adoption of technology from the basic to top level in Police system. That will be a moral boosting exercise.

Q: - How you stepped in RTI Movement despite serving in bureaucracy?
A: - It was little bit unusual but not completely as sizable number among government officials including those who are in police have positive thinking about RTI. A fair official has nothing to afraid from RTI which is a gateway of transparency and lastly an important factor for good governance. Remarkably, RTI has enhanced the honest official’s confidence and reputation which was impossible through any other means. After gathering the inside perspectives of administration and realizing hassle of official procedures, I decided to back this movement by joining a voluntary position of President, National RTI Forum, Lucknow.

Q: - Do you think CBI should be come under the RTI Act?
A: - Yes, it will make overarching effects in other areas too that may finally enhance the people’s perception for these offices of last resort. I don’t think it may be taken as facile opinion to introduce RTI at most of places, only excluding those falls under the strategic area.

Q: - RTI Activists are frequently under the attacks that to an extant diminishing the calibrated part of activism, how you first think as an activist and later Police?
A: - It’s indeed a big concern…as an activist; it seems me like cruelty against the evangelists of fair governance. As a Police, I think it should be deal as law & order problem…once law will take it course, such terrible incidents will be sure come down.

Q: - You spent around two decades as an IPS in UP, tell us the upshot of caste politics in state which initially spread under the pseudo cover of social justice?
A: - What happened in UP in last two decades in the name of caste is shocking and frustrating. Once the nerve of central politics has diminished to merely shadow of its past…law &order is lagging behind here in absence of professional work ethics and enormous political pressure. The most worrying thing is the caste being used as means of exploitation…natural merit has no place here before the status of natural birth in a categorized caste.
Q: - Enforcement of law is essence of Policing but the state of prison is an area which is completely bereft from it, what you will suggest for reform?
A: - Speedy trial and reformist treatment with prisoners will make the positive difference besides the jail inmates should be allowed to be productive inside the define territory. If someone wants to pursue education, let him/her allow to doing …it’s nice to see many such examples in Tihar jail and even in some of smaller jails. A change can take place in human, even after the conviction of crime…that must be taken as a welcome possibility by the prison authorities and also judiciary. For these behavioural changes, we don’t have to look outside; the inspiration of Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave are quite conducive for infusing humane touch with prisoners.

Q: - There is common apathy for the bottom level of Policing, which is the biggest dent on entire Police system…what’s your take on these serious flaws of governance?
A: - Lack of professional ethics is a big concern which creates such embarrassing practices and that must be checked by the standardized rules instead of sheer upper hand action from hierarchy. At any cost, lapidary approaches have to overtake the sordid practices…with addition of ethics; technology will bring a tectonic shift in Indian Policing. Having the great IT capacity, it’s not very hard to materialize in India…whereby acronyms POLICE will justify its real meaning for all.
Q: - I hope you will subsume many issues for the sake of fair governance in Policing and will also keep holding the baton of RTI…
A: - I have been striving for the betterment of Policing and will be keep doing so…RTI activism will be also progress and I am sure days ahead are going to be very participative and full of enthusiasm for a fair and transparent governance.
Atul Kumar Thakur
June 29, 2011, Wednesday, New Delhi
Mail: summertickets@gmail.com

Uncivil foes of Democracy!

Only up to a point, a very vaguely defined point, we understand our goals in democracy. This has been a strong case in India since we have been working under the many adverse shadows, even after throwing out the British colonialism and our tryst with destiny to a most profound authoritative system called, democracy. Was discovering the democracy sixty-four years back was a mania, a passion or even a kind of neurosis, without the slightest moral justification? I never wish anyone should think in this manner and take it like that; no explanation will ever convince them to settle collective wishes for common greater goods. With embedded resilience and appropriation of ideological and even sectarian new classes, Indian democracy has strengthened enough itself over the years to give ample room to Bentham’s utopia of happiness or Marx’s equitable socio-economic stake.

What we have a functional base for our democracy with a chequered proven record of comparatively peaceful transition of power but what we don’t have the volition for rock bottom segment. There have been always some underlying disagreements among the different classes-ofcourse, we too had broken off for even more than once, but interestingly never completely. Indeed, even those skirmishes were not the roistering moments-after all, we are still paying the price of over sobriety on Kashmir and extreme baffling with monstrous emergency era. Later after witnessing the most undemocratic ordeal, we realized and came out of slumber that the monstrosities are a mark of emotional imbalance rather than a lack of intelligence. Obviously, if someone has no confident I himself, it is because they sees themselves through others eyes even barring world’s vision that gives atleast some universal feeds.

I really scarcely know what our goals were, even can’t endorse whether they were adequate? I also don’t see either opulence or nattering in single magic line…we could have done otherwise as a nation? That we couldn’t, so now merely muttering that our collective obstinate trust turning swiftly into bitterness of hearts and wavering all around our system. The dwindling credibility from public institutions is not passable; it’s emphatically reflects the growing ostracizing from those who are in authority instead of performing on tall vows. In a sort of warring, common folks are on receiving end, theirs representation being hijacked by the hawkish thugs with pedigree of many questions marks on their integrity. Under a new fashion, impractically theirs ubiquitous entanglements on every matter have tarnishing the line made to delink the statecraft from manipulated street demonstration.

Present wave of corruption, that otherwise should have taken as serious governance flaws is unfortunately being considered as byproduct of coalition government by the Congress party with nerd citing towards the blind ambition of regional political forces. What Congress is missing today? The loyalist political cohorts-the cornerstone of sycophancy based political order. Whatever their’s intent or display, it’s hard for a Journo to cite, who is Judas? Only crux of the matter is truly embarrassing, how the genuine rage of common men’s was falsely represented by the Anna Hazare and innumerable metro cities based activists who never votes or faced the ire of price rise or corruption. The demonstration pavements of Jantar Mantar which years back was awarded the entertaining slots to free Rajpath from deviating concerns, was well managed by the sharpest brains like father-son combo, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan, Magsaysay award winner and may be Nobel prize aspiring Arbind Kejriwal.

Later, it was altogether a big flash, that father-son have combined property of around Rs.145 Crore, even with most conservative estimation…and remarkable is the fact Shanti Bhushan has earlier played two extra innings in legal practice and politics including once of Ministerial profile-rest is open secret about his claim of integrity! It was worth of noticing that, sensationalizing electronic/social media had at no point covered the voices from rural hinterlands towards the hyped crusade against corruption. What Anna Hazare movement with back up from conglomeration of neo-NGO type civil organizations has did the, complete outshining of real issues for an unreasonable Lokpal bill in current form. That went well in favour of Anna&co and ofcourse for principle opposition BJP-what left in midway the electoral reform, Inflation control, lethal inequitable spread of wealth, nexus of vested corporate interests etc. Even in wildest dream, Anna Hazare couldn’t be confused with Gandhi by a conscious mind-it was indeed ironic to see a non-political man like him being prepared for an unprecedented revolution against the corruption without looking on the role of parliament and constitution.

A nation like India can’t be run in this way-there is need of peoples connect as vital organ of governance and that’s alone possible through react practically instead of hanging with blurred tantrums and ending like cobweb. Governance must mean for public goodness and transparency, that can be only achieve through broader participation and electoral reform-that will too address and check the growing overlapping of jurisdictions among legislatures, executives and judiciary. Instead of shunning politics, peoples must see it as life and let entwine it with fairness through corrective measures-political process must have to throw the pedantic following for a bigger reform. This must start now to retrieve people’s faith in their political system…it must be in place very soon because world has already started seeing us with doubt. Thinning FDI in last few months and coverage of corruption by the western media, including Economist, which has a scripture like stature has summarily rejected the Indian growth story as “rotten”.

Peoples have to take ccare of politics but not through shambling convictions, the main concern here left with the role of loose talking by policy makers-the way Kaushik Basu has idealized the bribe on finance ministry website is indeed very shocking. This must be condemned as ethical violation from top on hierarchy…we needed peoples who can work, and not experts have only mastership of bawdy rhetoric’s. India is complex entity, here misadventures’ tolls high on human capital which is its true strength-we shall not take risk to jeopardize our edge as knowledge economy vis-à-vis China. China with much stricter and closer political system, has grown up fairly on governance and sizable income spread at bottom level. We shall not be envy merely; rather we should act for competency.

Our distortion of progressive elements which begun with the blockades in Communist movement and theirs balkanization as political entity did lot of harms in mainstream Indian politics and further in lessening of progressivism from collective psyche. Under changed ideals, except few core issues, there is little differences of perceptions among the rest political parties, that is matter of grave concern. The major stakeholders of Indian democracy must have to align with the dynamics and compelling changes to avoid the further nightmares. Culprits must be nail to sabotage their glamour’s and misuse of trust& authority…nation can’t be run by the uncivil foes, it exactly needs characters like Caesar’s wife!
Atul Kumar Thakur
April 30, 2011, Saturday, New Delhi
Mail: summertickets@gmail.com

Revival of Bihar

The economy’s spectacular growth in five years up to 2008-09 was propelled by the initiatives at the grass root level, with the traditional backward and poor states turning into miracle economies. As par new Central Statistical Organization {CSO} surveys, at 11.03 percent, growth rate of Bihar only a step behind Gujarat {11.05%} and much above the National average of 8.49%.
This revolutionary growth of Bihar at 11.03% almost seems like Chinese growth; the growth rate of Bihar assumes although more significance as it comes after a negative 5.15% growth of 2003-04. “Many old notions have been shaken up in India’s five years of miraculous growth, from 2004-05 to 2008-09, some historically laggard state have sky rocketed while one leader has plummeted {Swaminathan. S.Anklesaria .Aiyar, The Economic Times, January 6th, 2010}.

The economic miracle of Bihar became possible through increased cumulative development expenses; Rs 35,364 crore was spent in last four years which remarkably proved turnaround for the shake of Bihar.Indeed economic revival also brushed the ill impressions about the state to an extant; even deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahulwalia who recently visited the Bihar, admitted that its economy has recorded a “desired growth” in the past three years-this is a positive indication from the broader perspective.

Erstwhile distortions of Bihar’s economic performances could be attributed to the malign rule of RJD led government which could raise and spent only Rs.25,000 crore in their havocking fifteen years long rule-what one can expect in such dismal investments except loosing one by one, the all glories of Bihar that it has been availing since the time immemorial.
Now in changed circumstances entire world started to see the Bihar through noble impressions-“as on last July, the World Bank had ranked Bihar 14th ahead of Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata-for being the “easiest place to start business” in India in its report “Doing Business in India 2009”, the report presents indicators on business regulations, compared across 181 economies {Santosh Singh, The Indian Express, January 4th 2010}.

It’s a explicit truth that once a country grows swiftly; increased government revenues can be better infused in social sectors and various welfare programmes-plans like NREGS, Bharat Nirman, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, the farm loan waiving and enormous oil subsidies becomes practically possible through the same growing volume of economies albeit rapid growth has been substantially inclusive, but not entirely, so much more is required public delivery at the bottom level.
After all states have larger role allocation to conquer the actual theme of development rather than attaining merely the sophisticated statistical progression-Chief Minister and architect of Bihar’s growth, Nitish Kumar has to deliberate cautiously in this regard as most of actual works have yet to be complete.

No doubt, this man behind the turnaround story of Bihar is today counting as most precious political species from the state…he has deep commitment for his assignments which he demonstrated in his long decades of political career without ever co-inciding without any grave charges. In his present stint as Chief Minister, he performed very well-he tried to touch every emptied spaces that had requires immediate make over, from education, health, services, infrastructure etc to filling of lakhs of vacancies in state departments are very remarkable.
He has shown keen interests in social plans and most pertinent, effectively used the center’s fund though obviously political mismatch with the center restraining him from making some more advanced approaches-like last twenty years, Congress led UPA government in the centre remains very passive towards any extra packages for Bihar.

Infact Nitish Kumar has to still confront with these realities although states credit has improved over years and he’s also making shack hands with big dads of business like, Mukesh Ambani, Keshab Mahindra etc before receiving the crucial Economic Times Awards; so he should look forward now to fetch private investments inside the state as the new Bihar would provide them an extra-ordinary mix of abundant finest human and natural resources.
He has got command over the law and order situation in state by de-glamorizing the crime profession-most of the famed criminals are already dwelling in various jails; only he have to stop promoting some criminals within the rank of MLA. The second thing that’s sole drawback in his illustrious personality is his unreasonable relying on caste equations-now at least it’s not matching his stature after his huge acceptance from all the classes and castes.
For forwarding Bihar to top on the list, hope he would stop being the supporter of any caste assertions or its manipulation in the politics…after all he is the man of change, so he’s the first choice.
Atul Kumar Thakur
January 27th 2010, New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com

An Inclusive Budget

The layout of union budget 2009- 10 is a great show of prudent realpolitik over the complex and cumbersome technical expertise of economics and finances. Policy framing of present year’s union budget was heavily emerged from the world wide economic downturn which was started since the year 2007 and substantially rocked the fine pace of liberalization programme across the length and breadth of the entire world.
Thanks to a much regulated financial system and culture of government ownership in strategic sector; Indian economy any how became able to manage a decent 6.7% GDP growth even though it is considerably low from recent year’s growth. So, keeping prevailing adversity in mind finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has remain steadfast on spurting growth in economy through domestic demand instead of foreign investments; however this trend is reversal from recent standing on liberalization of economy and present years economic survey.

The most striking fact of budget remains the government’s very soft treatment on financial sector reform that further restrained the divestment in banking and insurance sector. Apart from financial sector budget also hardly kept its promises of divestment in other public sector units; despite this finance minister shown his empathy for public ownership in PSUs.
Indeed that refers to right timing of execution which is not ripe as par the situation government facing today albeit convention has been showing that very few new government opted for any huge divestment plan in its very first budget.With sharp increase in spending to relentlessly stimulate the economy is a major thrust of this budget whose proper enactments are possible only through the surge of rural economy and enhanced productive activities in rural areas.

A huge impetus to rural development is a very formidable act of government which visualizes the respect for mandate. So, the budget is a win- win situation for rural development and employment generation; total allocation of Rs 39,100 crores with an increase of 144% over preceding budget for the funding of NREGS is very boosting stance for this acclaimed programme. Establishment of National Food Security Act for the families fall below the poverty line can be conceived as very candid response to struck with the plight of hunger and malnutrition; launching of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojna initially to 1,000 chosen villages consisted with 50% or more scheduled castes is a welcome step.
Rural housing and sanitation given utmost importance; allocation of Rs 8,800 crores to Indira Awas Yojna with a forwarded increase of 63% over preceding budget and allocation of Rs 2,000 crores for Rural Housing Fund in the National Housing Bank would positively met with the plights of rural housing.

Allocation of Rs 12,000 crores for Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana with a steep increase of 59% is a very commendable measure taken for the strengthening of rural infrastructure; Rs 7,000 crores of allocation to Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna with a 27% increase from previous year would be equally beneficial in this regard.
Further enhancement of allocation by 45% to Bharat Nirman programme for year 2009-10 and proposal for strengthening of Swarn Grameen Swarojgar Yojna with the better channelisation of Self Help Groups are very symmetrical to the needs of rural areas. With having 4% of agricultural growth; the target for agricultural credit flow for the year 2009-10 is being set at Rs 3,25,000 crores over last years Rs 2,87,000 crores to accelerate the growth momentum.

Ceiling of overdue payment to bank by the farmers is further stipulated up to 31st December 2009 besides loans up to Rs3 lakhs for farmers at the interest rate of 7% per annum is a big relief. Its noteworthy that allocation for the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna is also being stepped up by 30 percent; apart from these increase of 75% over the allocation in 2008-09 (An additional increase of 1,000 crores for Accelerated Irrigation Programme) is very stimulating for farming sector.
In health sector National Rural Health Mission given an increase of Rs 2,057 crores over Rs12, 070 crores provided in the interim budget. For education, launching of National Mission for Female Literacy and modernization of employment exchange are very innovative steps taken to rationalize the gain of education in equal manners to different strata of society.

There are also provisions made for soft student loans to weaker sections; regarding Integrated Child Development Scheme, although all services under this scheme have extended with quality to every child under the age of six albeit it failed on the claim of universalisation in education. Higher education has greatly benefited in this budget as proposals are made for the establishment of one central university to each state where presently it’s not existed.
Up gradation of polytechnics and allocation of Rs2, 113 crores for IIT’s and NIT’s which also includes a provision of Rs 450 crores for new establishment of these institution. These are very forwarded approach taken in the direction of making technical education more rampant, overall an increase of Rs 2,000 crores over last budget are being taken into account for spurting the higher education scenario.

On the power front, Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme is a vital scheme for reducing the gap between power demand and supply. Allocation for this scheme is Rs2,080 crores, a steep increase of 160% above the allocation in the budget of 2008-09. On oil sector global situation of petroleum products have taken into account for any further deliberation. In gas segment a crucial proposal are introduced to develop a blueprint for long distance gas highways leading to a National Gas Grid.
On infrastructural development plans has drawn to stimulate public investment in India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited with more emphasis on public private partnership besides provision for Rajeev Awas Yojna for urban poors are introduced. Infrastructure is very imperative for economic growth, so its vitality taken in consideration.

Allocation for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission being stepped up by 87% to Rs12,887 crores besides provision of basic amenities to urban poor are being set to Rs3,973 crores in current budget. Further the allocation during the current year to NHAI for the National Highways Development Programme has lifted up by23 percent over the preceding budget; also enhancement being evident in the allocation for the Railways from Rs10,800 crores in the interim budget to Rs15,800 crores.
Due diligence have been made for the allocation of defense expenditure, steep increase in allocation was made because of having state of turmoil in neighboring countries; for strengthening of border management an additional amount of Rs2,284 crores are provided beside this One Rank One Pension for Ex-servicemen are also introduced.

For internal security, modernization of police system have given due concern and in this regard additional Rs430 crores would be spent. For restructuring export growth, interest subversion of 2% has extended for seven critical sectors besides huge credit infusion and rationalization of custom and various services are made.On fertilizers subsidy, government intends to move towards a nutrient based subsidy regime instead of the current product pricing regime which is as par with the productivity enhancement in agriculture.
Policies are framed for the cluster wise development of handlooms to spurt the growth momentum in consistently thickening manufacturing sector; emphasis on implementation of The Unorganised Workers Social Security Bill2007 is a major boost in this regard.

In another move of social security scheme allocation for minority welfare has been raised to Rs1740 crores over Rs1,000 crores in preceding budget. The setting of Unique Identification Authority of India with a provision of Rs120 crores is a great move in the direction of modern governance.
Increase in allocation for the National River and Lake Conservation plans to Rs562 crores over the preceding budgets allocation of Rs355 crores and proposal for National Ganga River Basin Authority are some of key steps taken for the environment and climate change. In sports segment allocation for Commonwealth games has been increased from Rs2,112 crores to Rs 3,472 crores, this huge allocation would be equally benefited the infrastructure of Delhi.

For rehabilitations to cyclone Aila strucked West Bengal has given Rs1, 000 crores and being consistent with India’s emerging role in South Asia, a decent amount of Rs500 crores has allocated for the internally displaced Srilankans.Taxation is supposed as the most sought after concern of a budget; so the budget given some respite by raising ceiling of tax exemption by Rs10,000 to all and senior citizens have given the exemption of Rs 15,000 besides 10% surcharge on personal income tax exceeding Rs10 lakh being scrapped.
So, such progressive move would infuse more money in the hand of salaried class that certainly fuelled the spirit in market. Introduction of Goods and Services Tax from April1st 2010 have also announced which would restructured the prevailing dual mode of taxation. Abolition of Commodity Transaction Tax and Frindge Benefit Tax is a major relief for corporate world even though enhancements of Minimum Alternate Tax from present 10% to 15% would reduce the pressure from treasury; corporate tax and Security Transaction Tax remain unchanged.

In some more changes in indirect taxes; excise duty have increased from 4% to 8% with some exceptions, customs duty on gold increased, service tax extended to legal services and excise duty on branded diesel and petroleum products has been modified. These changes should impart positive implication for export sector.This budget has honour to cross the total allocation of 1 million crores in first time in history to Rs 10,20,838 crores; this growth of Indian economy is indeed an auspicious sign in present circumstances.
On FRBM, finance minister has judiciously court the reference of Kautilya and likewise he doesn’t stressed the pressure of fiscal deficit on peoples money instead he announced to cover the fiscal deficit of 6.8% of GDP by market borrowings and rest via printing notes. Indeed budget shown some major relief like Tax Holidays to specific sector like IT but it sends out a clear message that corporates must have their own land to secure their feet’s. So, overall it’s a balancing budget in broader context for an inclusive growth of economy.
Atul Kumar Thakur
11th July, 2009, New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com