From healthcare to higher education, from urban planning to industrial growth, from water security to environment conservation, there are many issues and crises that require the immediate attention of the new Government, writes UPENDARA SOOD
led by Mr Narendra Modi, who was sworn into office as Prime Minister on May 26, the BJP has scripted for itself a historical victory in this lok Sabha election. Both Mr Modi and the BJP have made a lot of promises in the election season. However, it may be difficult for them to deliver on those promises as the country is going through a tough economic phase.
There are many areas that require the Governments immediate attention. For instance, every year thousands of students graduate from medical colleges, both private and public. During graduation, they all take an oath to help the poor and the needy. But, in reality, they hardly ever fulfill that promise. Therefore, a new policy is required to bridge the gap.
For new medical graduates to receive their degrees, two to five years (depending on whether one is a student of a private or State-run college) of rural service should be made mandatory. Students should be informed of this at the time of admission itself.
During the course of this rural service, the young doctors should be provided with Government accommodation and food. Additionally, the State (through village panchayats) must also ensure that there are proper medical centres and that the doctor and his staff have all the facilities necessary for providing good treatment. Indeed, similar rules can also be made applicable for nursing students.
Another area that requires urgent attention is that of sustainable land development that caters to the needs of industry as well as the agricultural sector. Ideally, for the development of new industries, there should be no need to touch agricultural land like it was done in Gurgaon and Singur. It is understandable that every industrialist wants his factory to be set up close to an urban centre but if that means taking away land that was being used for agricultural purposes, then such a move must be resisted as it only leads to a series of haphazard growth.
let us look at Gurgaon. Its agriculturists are jobless or they have become labourers. Crime rate has increased. In the name of development, many new housing colonies have emerged but the lack of urban planning has meant that environment has been damaged and especially water bodies have disappeared.
Moreover, even the real-estate boom in Gurgaon would have suffered had it not been for the Delhi Metro which has made life in that suburb much easier. Urban planning, therefore, must be a priority for the new Government. This planning also has to be sustainable in a manner that protects the environment including traditional land uses, water bodies and also forest cover.
The districts of Bhind and Morena in Madhya Pradesh are a good example of this kind of development in the future. Notorious for the dacoits who once had a free reign of the area, the Bhind-Morena hillocks are spread out across several kilometres. There are rich water-bodies in the area and many villages and small towns but overall it seems like development has not touched this area.
The new Government should ask big industrialists to come to Bhind-Morena and set up shops in the barren lands of the region. If industrialists agree to invest here, the Government should go another step further and develop the rail and road infrastructure.
Overall, a project such as this will provide jobs to hundreds of workers, architects, computer experts, engineers and foremen. Government can also ask real-estate developers in the private-sector to build proper housing colonies with adequate service lanes and sewer lines. In other words, when industry is developed, it can give birth to a city. Jamshedji Tata’s Tatanagar in Jharkhand is a good example.
Another looming crisis is that of water which is fast becoming a scarce commodity. Across the world, scientists are already trying to turn sea water into drinking water but there has been no success so far. Many predict that the next wars will not be fought about land issues but for access to water sources. Add to that the inevitable fall-out of climate change processes and it is clear that immediate steps have to taken to avert a crisis.
The time has come to take up the issue of interlinking of the rivers. This can help increase the water table of the country. It will also be helpful during floods when water of one mighty river can be moved to others, thus saving the lives of several thousand people as well protecting agricultural produce and containing financial loss.
Moreover, interlinking of the rivers will produce new tributaries and new rivers. Seeds of ashoka, jamun, mango, neem and others plants can be sowed on both the sides all along the new water path. This will not only increase green cover of our country but also help in improving the climate situation of the country.