NCR: National (Be)Careful Region

Owing mainly to the migration from the nearby states, the NCR region is the most populous and crime affected regions among the sprawling Indian cities. After having stayed in the whole of NCR region including Noida, Delhi and Gurgaon in the past few months I can say it with much more conviction that the NCR region is undoubtedly one of the most unsafe places in India to live in. We don’t need to analyze the crime data to know this obvious fact.

The recent spate of crimes in the NCR region further states the obvious points of insecurity and the kind of law and order situation the region is in. The city newspapers are full of crime reports ranging from rape to murder to theft and so on. Of course, NCR region is where all our political bigwigs are located. Maybe that explains why so many crime incidents are taking place in the NCR region. The NCR region borders Uttar Pradesh which arguably has the most volatile crime network in the whole country. Firearms and other localized weapons are easily accessible to the criminals and the state has illegal firearm factories operating in concert with the local corrupt politicians and local goons. In fact, unlicensed guns are so easily available in some areas that even ordinary mortals like you and me could go and buy it as long as we have the greens in our pocket. Double standards are being followed here as we have a very stringent gun licensing policy in India. After acquiring the guns it is easy to import them to a sprawling metropolis like Delhi. The one question that strikes the mind immediately afterwards is why can’t the authorities seal the deal by shutting down and taking police action on such illegal factories. Of course, political patronage plays an important role in preventing such action.

The biggest threat facing the NCR region is the growing inequality among the general public which will inevitably lead to a higher crime rate in the upcoming years. We need to see in between the lines here and draft a proper policy framework with attainable objectives if we want to contain this crime menace from getting out of our hands. The primary focus of the police needs to go a tectonic shift from a curing action to a preventive one. Also, we don’t want to see the police in action only when a sensational crime has taken place and the focus should be more on getting to the roots of a crime. In the end, no alibis are acceptable and it is only action on the ground that could change the complexion of the NCR region. Be Safe.

-Sunny Gusain

Poor?? Who?? Us?? No way?? Them?? Maybe!!!!!

We have all been witness to data of all kinds in today’s communication revolution era. Take data on India’s poverty estimates. Tendulkar committee says it’s 37% Indians living below the poverty line. Arjun Sengupta Committee says it’s 77 % Indians living below the poverty line. Also, N.C Saxena Committee says it’s 50 % Indians living below the poverty line. A 2005 World Bank estimate puts India’s poor at 41.6 % of the total population (earning less than the International poverty line of US $1.25). Firstly, it’s funny to notice so many committees being formed on public money and resources going down the drain with no productivity. Imagine if only one committee was formed and a consolidated data prepared instead of labyrinthic data and unsure outcomes, wouldn’t it have been much better????

Now, let’s see and go beyond the numbers on India’s poverty and observe its progress on inclusive growth. Even while taking a small walk anywhere in India, one thing that we observe around us is how wealth is so damn unequally distributed.  While some are enjoying lavish meals inside fancy restaurants and hotels others are waiting outside the same hotel or restaurant waiting for some kind of begging opportunity. Small ( and sometimes smart) kids are begging their hearts out in public places and missing no opportunity to gherao you. As is with the human brain, the general public has taken it as a part of their existence while making no efforts to change the same.  What the innocent public fails to understand is that such inequality is unsustainable and will sooner than later result in civil unrest. Why is there so much apathy among the general public for these people. The standard reply would be why should we care. And that reply is on expected lines. I mean who has the time to look at these NOT SO IMPORTANT souls when everybody is busy making money.
 

A few NGOs and an even fewer government organizations cannot be expected to bring about a renaissance in the lives of these people unless something comes from the civil society itself.  A concerted effort has to be taken by all of us if we want to see the change we desire. A clear cut strategy with well defined objectives should be charted out by local governments to make inclusive growth work.  Centre cannot be expected to carry out the objective of inclusive growth by itself and it should be the motto and the driving force of every state government to ensure growth is made inclusive.

-Sunny Gusain

Fiscal Consolidation: The way Forward

FM: On the right path

The most widely used words in the UPA government regime are fiscal consolidation and inclusive growth. Thanks to the windfall gains from the 3G/BWA spectrum sale, the government seems to be well on course on its path of fiscal consolidation in this fiscal year. Gross fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP is estimated to be 4.8% as compared to 6.3% in the last fiscal. Needless to say, a major chunk of the drop in fiscal deficit comes from the gains from the 3G/BWA spectrum sale. Revenue deficit is also estimated to be 3.5 % as a percentage of GDP as compared to 5.1% the year earlier. (source: economic survey 2010-2011)

The thirteenth finance commission headed by Mr.Vijay Kelkar has laid down a fiscal roadmap requiring the states to do away with revenue deficit and achieve a fiscal deficit target of 3 % of their respective GDPs by 2014-2015. Such steps by the states need to be taken in a very calculated and systematic manner in order to meet the desired targets within the stipulated time frame. If Indian economy does achieve the target of fiscal consolidation laid out by the Kelkar headed commission, it would become a very attractive investment destination not only for the FIIs but also for the domestic investors. A lot of FDI will flow to the Indian markets if such targets are met.

To achieve the target of fiscal consolidation, it is imperative to reform the current fertilizer and petroleum policy as a major chunk of public non-plan finances are diverted here. The output from such subsidies is very low as compared to the same amount being invested elsewhere on other developmental projects. But above all, the governments need to be bold enough to understand as well as implement the recommendations of the committees it sets up. 

-Sunny Gusain