It is my opinion that even if you
like a government, it does not hurt anyone by constructive criticism. I have
collated some news posts, esp that from congress spokespersons from various news
sites. If these make sense and seem to have a ring of truth then the government
does need to act fast.
Jobless growth
It’s causing a lot of consternation
in the people but nobody is vociferous about it. Export industries have reduced
workforce. Public sector, by far the largest employer, employs only 18 million
as compared to 19.5 million two decades back. Software automation has reduced
labour requirements of ITES. Slow growth in agriculture has reduced the sheen
in farming as a source of livelihood.
Below normal monsoons
Two years of below normal
monsoons have caused all reservoirs to go dry. In searing heat people are
eagerly awaiting monsoons and if it is not evenly distributed may cause mass
migrations within the country.
No GST due to non co-operation with opposition
The center being adamant and not
yielding to the demands of the opposition neither trying to reach middle ground
in matters of national importance is quite uncharacteristic of a responsible
govt.
Fudging of GDP data
It needs no mention that
reliability of GDP data is questioned by almost everyone. Discrepancies have
reached a level higher than earlier years.
Frequent foreign trips
Pray to god that this year
monsoons will be normal or else the traveling PM would need to come back
cutting short his multi country trips.
Chest thumping and trumpeting small steps (rai ka pahad)
Jan Dhan Yojana and a slew of
other steps were in fact old wine in new bottle.
Lawlessness over beef eating, intolerance, award wapsi
Controversies.. Controversies… controversies…(entirely
avoidable)
Abetment of small scale riots
We cannot lay all blame on
central government but those states which are facing elections riots seem to be
traced to some or the other BJP party functionary
Slowing exports
Centre cannot be blamed for
global slowdown and since electricity problems are being addressed we will
possibly see a pickup
Increasing taxation of petroleum products/services and milking of
telecom firms
A whatsapp joke doing the rounds
is “I Ordered service tax….(after some blank pages) Got a pizza free”. This
sums up the thoughts of the people. We are overtaxed. Another FB post says “take
all my salary give back all taxes I pay”. If all this should not cause
electoral losses, something should be done immediately.
Instability in the neighbor countries
Instigating instability in the neighborhood
is something not in our foreign policy and this does seem like an accusation
without substance. Nepal, Srilanka, Maldives, Bangladesh to name a few seem to
have a grouse.
Discontinuation of India’s traditional non-alignment doctrine
It suited the world powers well
because they always had someone not in any of the gangs.
Non-starters as slogans such as digital-India, swacch Bharat, clean
ganga, smart cities etc
The less said on these things the
better… mere slogans they seem.
Increasing farmer distress and suicides
This summer has been the hottest
and farmer suicides have hit a high, news of child marriages, village women
turning to prostitution to support themselves and other horrendous incidents or
stories.
Increasing prices of protein rich foods and grains
Some food items esp dal have
reached sky high prices… even sugar seems to have become out of reach of the
poor.
Increasing undernourishment of the people esp children
Mal-nourishment increased by 2% in
the past five years and calorie intake by people has seen secular slide since
three decades.
Unhealthy lifestyle of people, stressed work places, life style
diseases
People eating more unhealthy
foods, stress in office and chronic diseases are gnawing at peoples happiness.
Pollution, garbage crisis, reducing water table, unclean water
Heritage of the past governments
apathy but long term solutions need to be found.
