Make or Mar India
Sir: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign is by now a universal catchphrase which the media is trumpeting as a ‘clarion call’ to investors. But, it appears to be no more than a farce. Going deeper into the essence of ‘Make in India’ campaign, one realizes that this is meant for opening up India’s ‘high-value’ industrial sectors or expedite the growth of India through industrialization. This should make little sense.
Take the example of the largest-ever FDI, Posco, that had come to India with the hope of setting up its integrated steel project here in June, 2005. After spending 10 years, it is planning to pack up and go. This is indication there is no proper industrial climate in the country.
Though the innovative ‘Make in India’ drive aims at expediting the manufacturing and industrial growth in the country, what is a pre-requisite, namely creating the proper climate for investment in the country, is yet to be set in place. Posco waited for over a period to get its basic requirements met, so as to set up the mega project. But, it got caught in the pulls and pressures from the state government, the Centre and activism of the local people, who were both guided and misguided by interested groups. Governments should have taken the right steps at the right time to sort out issues and clear the way for mega projects. Instead, the administration remained as mere onlooker.
While crores of rupees have been spent for the marketing of the ‘Make in India’ campaign, the government is not being serious about creating the conditions for investment. Herein lies the rub.
Ram Jivan Khuntia, PURI
Priti, struggle
Sir: Priti Patel, a Eurosceptic, a believer in low taxes, outspoken about the need for Welfare cuts, has been made employment minister in the United Kingdom. She hit the headlines when she said she supported death penalty for the most serious of crimes. When the Indian
community was prosecuted by dictator Idi Amin and was ordered to be out within 90 days, Patel fled Africa to Britain with a six-year old son. Her parents were kicked out of Uganda. They came to the UK empty-handed, worked hard and set up a successful shop business. It is proven in the case of Patel that where there is a will, there is a way. She was ambitious enough and did not rely on anyone for support. She believes in hard work and sincerity. She came from a country where she was
harassed. Her strong determination and goodwill made her achieve her goal. She is a source of inspiration for all.
Naresh Chandra Mandal, Prachi Nagar, BHADRAK
