I have personally seen how shallow are
Gujarat Governments claims of integrated and inclusive development in Gujarat
while surveying 360 farmers across Gujarat for a project of Ministry of
Agriculture on Marketed and Marketable Surplus and while Researching for an
ICSSR Project on a Franchising model and Rural Entrepreneurship in North and
Central Gujarat.
1). Krushi Mahotsavs are one-off efforts,
the Government machinery in Gujarat including most Government offices are
moribund staffed by lazy indolent
officers.
2.) Long Run multiplier Rural development
efforts are missing-no effort is made of a kind of Rural Non Farm Sector
Development, although a large potential exists in Gujarat with many members of
families underemployed in villages, there are no long term rural nonfarm
projects either in manufacturing or services of note which can develop rural
labour.
3.) Traders continue to exploit, national
schemes of marketing boards are not backed up by State Government officials
since the purpose is only to bag credit if possible.
4.) As a recent CAG report has outlined
gross wastage, bias and misappropriation of funds in terms of doles to
Corporate houses exists in Gujarat in last five years.
5). Gross Wastage through tall claims of
(unrealized) investment in Vibarant Gujarat has led to immense wastage of
public exchequer in Gujarat, the money could be better spent on: say, the
adivasi girl child..
6.) Human Development in terms of Health,
Education and Human Capital in Gujarat is way behind states like Karnataka and
Kerala. Let us take some examples:
a) Bangalore, Hyderabad , Pune et al have
developed as Service and knowledge hubs and expanded greatly in last ten years,
Ahmedabad, Baroda etc lag behind miserably.
b) Education is in great trouble in
Gujarat, I have personal experience of this- apart from national institutes
very few institutes of note with local faculty exist, there is rampant
politicization with vice-chancellors selected who a decent college in Delhi
will not select as a lecturer. Statistics Department, Economics subjects like
Indian Economy and Humanities Subjects have been completely sidelined, since
such subjects have a liberal impact.
c) Entertainment and Culture is severely
restricted. Atif aslam concerts are banned, Hussain-Doshi Gufa vandalized.
d) Disturbed Areas Act is Randomly
associated with various areas to prevent Religious intermingling. Ahmedabad is
completely sergreagated in terms of Urban Spaces, Baroda also now increasingly.
e) Recently a Japanese Restaurant has
opened near PVR Cinemas, Fortune Temura, it serves magnificent Japanese
Cuisine, similar restaurants in Delhi are choc a bloc full with local
clientele, in Ahmedabad you will not find a single person in that restaurant
even at peak hours and this is not because of bias against nonvegetarian food,
its just ignorance of cosmoplolitan tastes.
f.) As Amartya Sen has shown health figures
in Gujarat are shocking.
