ENGLISH PRINT/VISUAL MEDIA’S

If the English media is to be believed that for all inactions of Government in the past, the blame squarely lies with communists. Forget the fact that Government could not go ahead with reservation of seats in Parliament for women mainly because of objection of two Yadav chieftains. Except in respect of Nuclear deal, closer relation with US and some of the fiscal reforms ( dilution of public sector holdings, more freer flow of FDI, disinvestment, pension reforms ), communists had whole-heartedly backed Government in respect of various welfare oriented schemes, which had not been the case with some other parties or the English media.

Now that Government has announced mega programmes, the qualifying statement of media has been that this or that programme can be implemented because communists cannot block the same or that the Left is out of the way.

The second prejudice or, say, confusion of the media is that they are echoing business class when giving all round importance to GDP growth. This is not to minimize the importance of GDP growth. But for a country with millions of people down and under, GDP cannot be the sole or most important criteria for development. Past GDP growth has left behind a large mass of people, i.e., their lives are not touched by GDP growth. For instance landless labourers in the rural area. But they have found some succor in the schemes of 100 days employment and supply of lower priced food-grains. The point is that even if the Government undertakes all the economic reforms, i.e., the agenda of the business and fourth estate, with trickle down theory not operational in respect of unemployed and destitute, their lot would remain the same as it has been in the past. Rural unemployed migrate in large numbers to cities and towns because there is nothing in villages for them to make a bare living.

The idyllic village life is largely a myth, contrary to what poets/story writers/ films say or depict. And hence the villagers in droves are turning to the cities for living. Some of the experts in such matters predict that the flow of village folk to cities for a living will become unmanageable in the times to come, unless they can be persuaded to stay put through some of the welfare measures. This is particularly true of landless unemployed in villages.

Hence the main focus of Government has to be to ensure that the big ticket social welfare measures are implemented effectively, with minimum leakage. If required the allocations for such programmes have to be enhanced. Making available drinking water, bare medical facilities, reasonably good education, assured income for two bare meals, etc., should absolutely take precedence over other activities. Yes, GDP is important and yet it is not an all important factor. Two meals, water, power and school/medical facilities are far more important.

It is said that the massive vote for Congress in the last election was caused primarily on account of the social welfare measures, particularly 100 days employment. It is also said that some of the opposition ruled States had tried to take credit for these measures. Be that as it may. Who gets the credit is not important. That the downtrodden are uplifted is to be ‘the be all.’