Gujarat doesn’t seem to be a part of the Indian Union. The land of the Mahatma and Sardar Patel that boasts of glorious history and culture stands out look no other. Perhaps, the reason is not far too seek. No other Indian leader has been such a talking point as Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.
Modi’s recently concluded sadbhavna programme aimed to spread the good news. There is a prayer in Sanskrit: Sarve bhadrani pashyantu ma kaschin dukh bhag bhavet (let me see greatness and good in everything and everybody and don’t be the cause of sorrow to any). That’s what sadbhavna stands for.
Here is a brief lowdown of the good news.
Gujarat has become a model since it showcases good governance, vision and leadership after a decade lead by Modi.
A recent report by the US Congressional Research Service has noted that Gujarat, under Modi, is an epitome of good governance and path-breaking development. Also, he has helped the state to become a key driver of national economic growth.
The reasons are obvious to any unbiased observer. Very few nations in the world have been able to maintain a happy blend between industrial and agricultural progress like Gujarat has achieved.
Gujarat’s GDP is growing at about 12% annually. The per capita GDP of Gujarat is more than three times the national average. It has organized five Vibrant Gujarat summits in the last decade, which are synonymous with investment. For instance, in this year summit alone, , 7,936 MoUs were signed: over US$450 billion was pledged, and if realised, can create over 5 million jobs.
Gujarat is fast emerging as the Detroit of India. Tata Nano’s factory at Sanand was preceded by General Motors at Hallol. Ford and Peugeot have also followed suit, and Maruti-Suzuki, hit by an ongoing labour union crisis in its Haryana plants, is mulling options of driving into Modi’s home turf. Textile and petro products have long been the state’s mainstay. While, small-scale industries have grown at a fast clip in the past decade. Ditto for the farmers, whose income has more than doubled in the past 10 years. The farm sector growth is pegged at over 10 per cent as compared to a paltry 3 per cent in the rest of India. Adequate power, new laws on contract farming, Krishi Mahotsav (farm festivals), and the setting up of Gujarat Green Revolution Company (GGRC) with micro irrigation comprising construction of check dams that have led to augmentation of groundwater level.
Gujarat has set a template for land acquisition, a contentious issue across states since many are involved in use of brute force to snatch farmlands for rapid industrialisation.
The Supreme Court has complimented Gujarat for putting in place a policy that is against “forced” eviction of farmers from their land.
Mission Mangalam focuses on women empowerment, a joint venture between Modi’s dispensation and corporate houses, in the state. While, Jyoti Gram Yojna has changed the socio-economic conditions of Gujarat.
Thousands of Jan Seva Kendras, equipped with computers, providing homes to urban poor under the Garib Samriddhi Yojana. Gujarat is the only state in India that has provided housing plots to every family, who are below poverty level. There has been tremendous progress in education as well.
There are now 31 universities in the state, which had only 11 in 2001.The dropout ratio has fallen from 20.93 per cent to 2.09 per cent at the primary level.
The latest ground-breaking news has come from Kankrej, where Modi has recently inaugurated Asia’s biggest solar power plant (30 MW) that may make the state the solar capital of the world soon. China may overtake USA in this sector, but Gujarat has shown that New Delhi can pip Beijing to the post.
Past 10 years, especially after the devastating earthquake, Gujarat has been spreading waves of good news to the world. If Gujarat were a separate country it would rank 67th most prosperous country in the world placed above China. But tomorrow looks even brighter.
Chalo Gujarat, Vibrant Gujarat, Gujarati pride all rolled into one is a good start. Now, the time is ripe to take to the national plane — Chalo Bharat, Vibrant Bharat and Bharatiya Pride. Every person of Indian origin and those who love India and Indians can contribute towards a prosperous India.
