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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | UPA struggles to put life into annual report-Sanjay K Jha

UPA struggles to put life into annual report-Sanjay K Jha

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published Published on May 18, 2012   modified Modified on May 18, 2012

The UPA II’s third anniversary on May 22 may witness a repackaging of old schemes, promises and achievements in the “Report to the people” as the government has little to show for 2011-12.

Sources say the 13-chapter report struggles to contest the perception of policy paralysis by pointing out social-sector initiatives based primarily on welfare schemes launched during the UPA I regime or in the first year of UPA II.

The government has sought to highlight its efforts in the areas of energy security, international relations and inclusive growth with special focus on the aam aadmi.

The politically most important plank of inclusive growth will revolve around schemes such as the MNREGA, National Rural Health Mission, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the Bharat Nirman. The Bharat Nirman scheme includes the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Indira Awas Yojna, rural drinking water supply, rural electrification, rural telephones, rural IT and rural irrigation.

The government does not have any new idea or significant achievement to hold up this year as its success story. In 2011, it had the engine of 8.5 per cent growth around which it wove smaller economic achievements. The 5.4 per cent growth in agriculture and the 8.1 per cent growth in industry also helped it hold its head high despite high food inflation.

Landmark laws like the Right to Education Act and the proposed Food Security Bill injected life into the last report. On the political front, the government was in a more positive frame of mind after winning Assam, Kerala and Bengal unlike the pathetic show this time after losing Punjab and remaining at the bottom in Uttar Pradesh.

This year’s story cannot hang around high growth as the tide is turning for the worse on the economic front. The government’s failure to bring financial sector legislation relating to pensions, banking and insurance in the second half of the budget session has raised questions about its ability to push for reforms.

The direct tax code bill, goods and services tax, land acquisition act and the Food Security Bill are stuck. The decision to allow FDI in retail could not be revived in the face of opposition from ally Trinamul Congress.

All these issues bolster the perception that the crisis in the government is deeper than many expected after the series of corruption scandals. The new anti-corruption regime promised by the Prime Minister failed to materialise. While the Lokpal bill may come up next week, there is no possibility of the whistleblowers’ bill and the judicial standards and judges accountability bill being passed.

The Prime Minister had on May 22 last year conceded that the fiscal challenge was immense and promised to take corrective steps. But the track record of the government does not inspire confidence and similar promises this year would attract ridicule.

Although ministers blame the Opposition’s non-cooperation for the slow reforms, the government cannot deny that it failed to convince allies and repeatedly demonstrated lack of will in taking tough decisions.

The Telegraph, 18 May, 2012, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120518/jsp/frontpage/story_15501880.jsp#.T7YluJgYmDE


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