I had decided that for a few days now, I will avoid writing anything critical or negative but the comments of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that high cost of capital is responsible for slowing down manufacturing in the country which has prompted me to write this article. Mr Jaitley is younger to me but he has failed to perform his duties amicably except speaking endlessly in the manner of the pendulum of a wall clock. The wall clock too requires precision manufacturing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently visited Assi Ghat in Varanasi wielding a broom and cleaning the surroundings and asking people to take forward the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign. Modi had undertaken this task even though he had already nominated Manoj Tewari and many other celebrities for the job. Instead of visiting Varanasi, the PM could have met the Engineering faculty of Banaras Hindu University to ascertain the progress of skill development programme. However, Modi had done the right thing by visiting the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) unit in Varanasi.
The problem is that most of the Indians especially those belonging to upper caste, do not like to perform any manual work.
People might have even have forgotten, who is the Minister for heavy industries. We must enlist co-operation of our industrialists to enhance skill development programme. I had read that a RSS learned man is going to deliver lecture on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. He should have instead visited few factories based in Nagpur and other cities to check on production and training. He could have guided VHP and Bajrang Dal youth towards path of progress instead of vandalising cinema halls and causing loss of property.
The young men need guidance and good advice. The senior RSS leaders must ask youth to start working or study and ask them to refrain from watching PK if they don’t like the movie. I have not seen this film as I was busy with my work. However, I read that youth have loved the film and are watching it too.
Manufacturing activities have hit a roadblock due to various hindrances in the land acquisition process. India Inc worries that the Land Acquisition act will push up cost of acquiring land by up to 3.5 times, making industrial projects unviable and raising overall costs in the economy.
The People are willing to part with their land if they are convinced that a manufacturing unit will be established there and training will be imparted to their children to find gainful employment in it. But if the government wants to acquire land and hand it over to a builder then who will sell their plot. The plot behind my own house at Lucknow is vacant for last few years. The government should either ask the land acquirer to augment manufacturing activities or else they should ask them to surrender the land. It can then construct a school or hospital on the site. Your sincerity must reflect in your actions. The Maharaja of Banaras had parted with his land as he was convinced that Banaras Hindu University will be built there.