Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch on September 25 of >the “Make in India” campaign (Sept. 21) will be a remarkable event and a reiteration of his strong faith in the country’s strong economic and infrastructure potential. He clearly aims to explore all this to the fullest extent and fulfil his desire to restore the golden era of India, when it was self-sufficient and reliant. One fervently hopes that this will also introduce quality into goods and create much needed jobs in India.
Madhuri Kumari,
Secunderabad
The decision is a step in the right direction towards reviving the manufacturing sector and, hopefully, with the additional potential to revive many of the sick public sector units which have been languishing ever since the country commenced its journey towards economic reforms. There is a need to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector in India’s GDP which has been stagnant for the past few decades. This will not only sustain economic growth but also generate employment. The real challenge ahead will lie in developing adequate infrastructure, providing skilled manpower and removing procedural and regulatory formalities.
Rajendra Singh,
Koba, Gujarat
While the plan is undoubtedly laudable, one must not forget that the supply of uninterrupted electricity and water are the biggest drawbacks. We plan big, but the real conditions — social and economic — are bad and cannot be wished away overnight.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet
The Modi government is reported to have decided to invite 3,000 of the top foreign firms to invest in India. Is this the path of development that a “sovereign, socialist democratic” republic should follow? Have we forgotten what such FDI by the East India Company led to? It is said that the Centre will work with the States to “de-bureaucratise and deregulate” to achieve this objective. When will the Modi government think of “de-bureaucratising” to deliver better governance to the aam admi ?
S.S. Kaimal,
Thiruvananthapuram