Those opposing the construction of the Ramjanmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on a grand scale – a non-government project – are demanding that the focus should be on issues such as unemployment and caste-based allocation of resources. Apart from the fact that such projects provide employment to a large number of people during the construction period, they also become long-term revenue earners, (the Taj Mahal is still pulling in the dollars despite its fading beauty).
The opposition is targeting the section of people who believe that only government jobs constitute employment. There is not just much-desired ‘security’ but also enormous potential to generate wealth through bribes. A certain amount is considered ‘kosher’ in most departments, which fact is openly and unashamedly acknowledged. Well paying jobs in the private sector require skill, competitiveness and goal-achievement. It is the impression that in government jobs, particularly the lower category ones, one can spend an entire career never having to put in such effort. So it is that the even lakhs of youths are lured into voting one way even if only a few thousand jobs are on offer.
Then there is the ‘welfarism’ that has become the norm in election manifestos. It is only natural that in a booming economy, some of the social welfare requirements should be met to raise the general standard of living. While the earlier concept was of providing giveaways that did keep people from starving – such as MGNREGA – during the Modi years the approach is to fund livelihood generation, a far more difficult idea to implement. Mere distribution of money not only depletes government coffers but, ultimately, also boosts inflation. All the state governments are struggling to achieve the balance, particularly those that have been extravagant in promising plenty.
The matter has become even more complicated by the desperate promise to bring about distribution of wealth on the basis of caste percentages. The latest speeches by Rahul Gandhi imply that wealth is limited to certain castes and, based on percentages ascertained through the caste census, some kind of reallocation will be undertaken. If taken seriously, this could entirely undo India’s economy and frighten away not just foreign investors, but also Indian entrepreneurs. Sadly, there is no shortage of people willing to be taken in by such political cons. It is truly difficult for a government to take the hard and practical decisions to boost the economy, while at the same time keeping the people from upsetting the apple cart because of short-sighted greed.
