The cultural and spiritual richness of Himachal will have to be developed as a resource for the overall uplift of the State and its people
Once, while addressing entrepreneurs, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said that realising the vibrancy of success, looking for shortcomings and finding a way to solve them was the mantra of prosperity. Chanakya has mentioned in the Arthshastra that in a society where entrepreneurs are demotivated, natural and earned resources begin to fall in value. The Coronavirus pandemic has shaken the globe and even the developed world is trying to find its way through the “new normal.” The questions uppermost on everyone’s minds are: What will be the changes in a post-Corona society? What will be the shape of the new economic world order? To what extent will technology affect our lives?
To add to the confusion, international agencies like the UN, the IMF, WHO, IEA and WEF are continuously coming up with new facts and studies projecting new possibilities. The way this tiny virus has caused human behaviour to change drastically in such a short time is unparalleled in the pages of history. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that for a self-reliant India, individuals and institutions need to increase their efficiency with commitment, comprehensiveness and inclusiveness, there is a need to understand this in totality. For instance, if we talk about the potential of Himachal Pradesh in a post-virus India, the State is fully capable of playing the leading role in fulfilling Modi’s dream of an ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ and the aspirations of the people of the State. But the question is, how prepared are we for the possible changes in social life in a post-Corona world? In which areas will Himachal have to become the global carrier of change? What are the shortcomings which must be removed?
In terms of natural resources, Himachal is the most beautiful, environmentally-rich region in the world. But the right use of resources and capacity is the need of the hour. For this to happen, serious and continuous efforts need to be made in some major areas. First, Himachal’s biggest strength is its natural resources, which can be a major source of prosperity. But society has to think about striking a balance between growth and environmental protection. Instead of constantly harming the environment in the name of growth, the “need for growth” has to be re-engineered. This sustainable development will only be possible through continuous, long-term planning. And the success of these efforts will depend on collective social participation. With over 40,000 botanical species found here, a large number of which have medicinal properties, biodiversity is the hallmark of this Devbhumi (land of the gods). According to the 2018 report of the Zoological Survey of India, Himachal has 30,377 species and subspecies of animals. With increasing research and development on these, the State can turn into a major centre of Ayurveda. The most important factor is that by increasing biodiversity, the pace of the negative impact of climate change can also be slowed in different regions of the Himalayas. It is already clear that after the COVID-19 crisis, the world will move rapidly towards organic products and Ayurveda. Plus, the pandemic has made the need for natural resources that are rich in values and credibility all the more relevant. Trained human resources are required to capitalise on economic enterprise opportunities. Through skill-development programmes, MSMEs can be strengthened. Himachal’s special geographical identity and favourable conditions of connecting with the rest of India will strengthen employment-generation efforts.
While many regions of the world are struggling with the lack of necessary infrastructure for healthcare facilities, Himachal is equipped with some of the best. Plus, the manufacturing units of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies are located in the State. Altogether, efforts to develop Himachal as a major centre for medical tourism, just like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, can be given a new impetus through entrepreneurship. For this to happen, local talent and entrepreneurs of the State will have to come forward.
Energy resources are the primary basis of all-round progress of any nation. Mother nature has blessed Himachal with an abundance of renewable and conventional energy resources. We have an opportunity to prioritise the development of renewable energy resources along with hydro-electricity. Today, as India is moving towards a “gas-based economy”, Himachal has every opportunity to move with the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. Along with increasing renewable energy production, food security through agriculture will have to be given priority. The biological consequences of Corona are indicating that people will have to make radical changes in their food habits and according to the food ecosystem, crop rotation will have to be adopted.
Plus, when there is a movement in the country to give a global identity to indigenous culture and local goods, efforts will have to be made to do the same for Himachal’s cultural heritage and folk arts. The cultural and spiritual richness of Himachal will have to be developed as a resource for the overall uplift of the State and its people. With these efforts, Himachal may well become a leader in realising the dream of a self-reliant India.
(The writer is General Manager, Corporate Communications, POWERGRID. Views expressed are personal)