By Satyaki Paul
In the last week of May, the Modi government completed its 7-year term as Union Government of India. Modi government pivoted itself through slogans of Acche din (future good days) and Vikas (development) in 2014. They promised their orientation towards pro-poor approaches such as building toilet, giving free LPG, etc. The NDA government in its criticism towards Congress had introduced the term TINA (There is No Alternative); such campaign catapulted BJP to their second victory in the 2019 General Elections. In current context, amidst second wave of coronavirus and as we move towards a third wave of coronavirus, the Modi government is facing backlash from several fronts, even from their own supporters.
The Modi government will be evaluated out of 10, where 0 is the lowest and 10 being the highest. Let’s see how the Modi government fares in current situation:
The Centre faces critiques on several sectors such as GDP (-1), Farm Laws (-1), New Education Policy, Business (-1), Inflation (-1) and even in international relations. And, the mismanagements during the COVID19 pandemic furthered the dreadful pitfalls of the leaders of our countries; their fallacies and arrogance even in the face of such danger (-1).
In the economic sector, GDP growth is one of the most important economic indicators. In this context, the average annual rate of growth of GDP under the Modi government so far has been around 4.8%, in contrast to 8.4% during the first seven years of the Manmohan Singh government (UPA). Thus, even if Ieliminate the 2020-21 fiscal year due to coronavirus pandemic, the 6-year national GDP average hoversaround 6.8%; which is way below the former UPA government. Thus, it is apparent that at this pace, the dream of a $5-trillion economy by 2025 is not possible (-1). Nevertheless, NDA government faredwell on inflation front, with CPI rising at 4.8% per annum in contrast to 7.8% during the first seven years of the UPA government (+1). Furthermore, on the foreign exchange front, the forex reserves inclined from $313 billion on May 23, 2014, to $593 billion on May 21, 2021 under the Modi led NDA government (+1).
In the agricultural sector, both the NDA and UPA government registered an annual average growth of 3.5% in agri-GDP during their respective first seven years. But the Modi government broke all records with respect to food and fertiliser subsidies in 2021, which touched Rs 6.52 lakh crore (38.5% of all revenue of the government, as per CGA). The central government also amassed grain stocks exceeding 100 million tonnes by end of May 2021 (+1). This mirrors the fact that there is a discrepancy in India’s grain management system, and PM Modi shied away from reforming this sector. In agri-exports sector, the NDA government fared poorly as it could not outdo the $43 billion achieved in 2014 (0). The three farm laws further agitated the agriculture sector thereby putting it in further distress. The farmers of Punjab and Haryana are still now protesting in the Singhu Borders. They are still placing a plea to the government for repealing such pro-capitalism laws (-1). Thus, with lethargic agri-exports, low demand due to pandemic and declining farmers’ incomes, the dream of doubling farmers’ real incomes by 2022 may also remain an unfulfilled wish.
In governance sector, it is evident that even during a normalcy, there was a bulldozing of Bills—without adequate review, discussion or parliamentary scrutiny—has now been standardized. Currently, all public institutionsseemdominated by the central government. The credibility and public confidence in government institutionssuch as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Election Commission, and even the Supreme Court have eroded, due to their pro-government acts. In this context, no “safe spaces” are left anywhere (even within universities) (-1). So, it is evident that from the abrogation of Article-370 to the biased Citizenship Amendment Act, the 7-years of NDA government have dismayed the “feedback loop” that once shaped India’s federal and fraternal relationship. Thus, it is a shift from “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” to “Maximum Government, Minimum Governance” (-1).
In social sector, India’s youth unemployment rate for 2019 reached 23% (before COVID19 pandemic). As regards for COVID-19 fatality per million population, India stands now at 212 (ourworldindata.org) in spite of the immense under-reporting of deaths inour country. Furthermore, from being the pharmacy of the world, our premiership is now receiving aids from nations across the world. This strongly dents the Atmanirbharta of our country (-1).
Thus, the overall reported score is 3. I have left out many other probable incidences as because being too critical is not in my conscience. In conclusion, it is clear that Modi government has performed badlyin most of the sectors. But Modi himself has maintained his own image as PM of India. But issues regarding Goods and Services Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Demonetisation, Farm Crisis, Air India disinvestment. Rising Petrol Prices are still at play. There is also an urgent need to strong-handedly limit the COVID19 pandemic with stern measures such as employing more vaccine manufacturers, providing free vaccine to every individual, creating a universal basic income, etc. There are numerous ways to redress current crisis, but the will to carry out such tasks is lacking; if these issues are timely resolved then no one can stop us from becoming a “Vishwaguru”.
The author works as a Ph.D. Research Scholar at the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, and the co-author of the book Anthropology For All (2021).