Due to the lack of economic opportunity, many Indians, who were evacuated from Yemen, want to get back. The Modi Government is doing its bit, but it must not fail
The rebels, armed with guns and bombs, are flooding the streets of Yemen. Reports of dead bodies sprawled across the streets are continuing to filter out. The country is in flames as the fight continues. Yet, when Kerala Minister for Diaspora, KC Joseph, reached out to the 45 Indian nurses to return home, only 10 of them agreed to do so. The rest decided to stay on.
Over 5,000 Indian citizens have been rescued: A tremendous show of the Indian Government's will to protect the Indians. However, after reaching India, some, after being rescued, responded unexpectedly. Many wanted to get back to Yemen. This response is counter-intuitive but understandable: To the Indians working in Yemen, the country gave an economic opportunity. They maintained a steady livelihood in the foreign land. And when given an option to live in a conflict-affected country with economic stability or to return to a stable democracy with limited livelihood options, some chose the former.
If such a situation arises, where our fellow Indians have to choose to live in a war torn country or a peaceful democracy, we must stop and contemplate where are we wrong. How did we get this wayIJ All of it boils down to the lack of economic opportunity in our country. Interestingly, that, economics is molding our country's present and future is not something that is not known to the political leaders and the citizens.
“I knew I was going to lose the election when, in a rally, a voter asked me how would I ensure that his family got a decent meal when last year, he could work for only 12 days through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The worker was right. I had done very little to provide a better livelihood in my constituency”, a senior MP said. The question of livelihood is close to the heart of many political leaders, and one that I hear about most frequently in my work with MPs. Unfortunately job creation is the result of multiple factors that include infrastructure, tax incentives and human capital amongst others. Most districts in India (particularly in rural areas) often lag in more than one of these factors. But despite the awareness of the gravity of the issue, very little is done.The Union Government for the past few terms could have been more proactive about job creation.
The 2014 election marked a historic trend: The voters looked beyond religion and caste to bring in a Government that promised economic growth. People were fatigued with the rise in price and the failing promise of a better financial future (ie better jobs and market). The Modi administration took care of this sentiment and launched the Make in India campaign, encouraging industries to create jobs in India. The administration is still making efforts to make the country business-friendly. However, as food prices continue to rise and the job market seems only slightly better, the Modi-Government seems to be losing its momentum.
India is a terrifically diverse country with varied issues and diverse struggles. However a consistent and intimidating theme across the country is the basic issue of livelihood. Survival is still a question on the minds of so many despite being one of the fastest growing countries in the world. As the Indians who returned from Yemen begin to settle into the peace and security of their homes, my only prayer for them is that they find the same opportunity here as they did in the foreign land.
(The writer is CEO of Swaniti Initiative, a non-profit that delivers development solutions to parliamentarians)