Governance
Context: The AatmaNirbharta has evolved as a new model of sustainable development for India as a learning Nation which has unity in diversity.
About Atmanirbharta:
- The meaning of the term ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ is self-reliant India.
- In his speech, the Prime Minister observed that to fulfil the dream of making the 21st century India’s, the way forward is through ensuring that the country becomes self-reliant.
- The aim is to make the country and its citizens independent and self-reliant.
- Five pillars of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat are
- Economy: contemplates not an Incremental change but a quantum leap so that we can convert the current adversity into an advantage.
- Infrastructure: that can be an image of modern India or it can be the identity of India.
- Systems: driven by 21st-century technology, and that is not based on old rules.
- Democracy: a vibrant democracy that is the source of energy to make India self-reliant.
- Demand: where the strength of our demand and supply chain is utilized intelligently.
Significance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
- Self-reliance will make globalization human-centric.
- The definition of self-reliance has changed in a globalized world and it is different from being self-centred.
- India’s fundamental thinking and tradition of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” provides a ray of hope to the world.
- This should be seen in the context of Human-Centric Globalization versus Economy Centralized Globalization.
- Self-reliance does not mean cutting India off from the world.
- India believes in the welfare of the world and India’s progress is linked with the world.
- The world trusts that India has a lot to contribute to the development of the entire humanity.
Challenges associated with current trends in development:
- The economy is already struggling with a low number of jobs and the job situation in the country is poised to face severe damage due to the pandemic.
- India’s low state capacity, poor healthcare infrastructure, and highly populated urban centres have left it particularly affected by the pandemic, which has weighed further on the economy.
- If the government does not undertake the opening of various sectors to private enterprises, ease overbearing regulation, and privatise loss-making PSUs, India’s manufacturing sector will become further uncompetitive.
- This would make future governments averse to opening up the economy again.
- Schemes like more protectionist trade stance and any increase in tariff rates for imports may lead to punitive tariffs or the revocation of trade benefits from its partners.
- Insufficient support for the state governments – the state governments which are at the forefront of fighting the pandemic have not been supported adequately via fund transfers.
Suggestive measures:
- This is a time when the legitimate aspirations of the diverse peoples of our country need to be reconciled self-reliant India working for Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.
- Atmanirbharta should be seen as a means for regaining India’s share in the global economy while simultaneously improving the quality of life for the common Indian.
- It will require a huge concerted effort from all stakeholders to restore India’s share in global trade to pre-colonial levels.
- Achieving global scales of production, improving the quality of our services to world standards and promoting goal-oriented R and D are efforts that will yield the desired goal of a higher share in global trade and manufacturing.
- No nation can progress without engaging its citizens in the development process. Citizenship is not just about participating in the electoral process.
- It is also about enlightening oneself with information, engaging with the state and its agencies and operating with a sense of empowerment.
- India has performed well in producing new knowledge, the focus should be now on harnessing this knowledge for economic growth.
Source: Indian Express
