At worst ,as Jain Aditya said on one of the channels , it was Modi’s Pravachan from Lal Quila with no specifics .
In the lunch atID function in our colony ,I noticed that public by and large approved it with high rating . If so it was a master stroke of the politician Modi who diverted the attention of the nation from economic growth and high inflation .
The speech was definitely short on specifics . He set an achievable goal of toilet in every school for girls and boys . But it will need water in every village . Possibly a septic tank type toilet in every school with a storage tank for water is a possible solution . It will still be a big convenience for girls villages who reportedly drop out on this count .
The skill development was another non comittal goody goody issue .
Nothing wrong except that it is too small a goal for the mighty Modi and the government who once wanted to take on China in growth.
The demand for abolition of planning commission was like demand for abolition of checks on fiance ministry . I felt that planning commission had a good role in government . The finance ministry which gains from abolition of Planning Commission ( like Railway Board & RDSO)could be the cause behind the decision . But the huge centralised data bank that planning commission has acquired is just not available any where else in government .Planning commission is far more knowledgeable than Finance Ministry.
It does not make sense to lose it for future .
The powers of planning commission for sanctioning project are the bone of contention . I donot like Finance Ministry as it is just pompous without expertise and knowledge.
But the argument that India needs much more coordianation with states and private sector is also correct . It could have been met by modifying the Planning Commission beyond recognition but not aboliting it .
Like Lalu who famously quipped that ‘ What development has to do with votes’, a lesser politician could use social issues as smoke screen for hiding his failures .
But I still have trust in Modi’s capability but not sure if he has got right advisers .
Babus of India can bring no revolution of any kind and Modi must come out of the jungle of Babus.
The larger goal of achieving ten percent economic growth rate is non negotiable ,
Modiji !
