15th August: An Agenda for Change

The banks and the media are all mighty and for a price, they can give you both money and fame. The smart ones use their knowledge to influence their constituency. The bolder they get, the bigger their fiefdom becomes. Being kingmakers, everyone falls in line. The economy grows as the citizens work hard and pay taxes. The rich and the famous have their tried and tested ways to take loans to pay their interest on time. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement, so everything falls in place. The poor live on subsidy and charity, their spirits ebbing. The middle-class work hard and pay taxes. The rich live on the poor and show the world otherwise. The media thrives on the balancing act between the haves and the have-nots with sensational nationalism. Economic growth is lopsided. The smart ones thrive and spend their time and money abroad while their own country suffers. A nation with abundant talent has been disowned by the haves.  

One man underwent tremendous hardship and rose from the deprived lot to emerge as the leader of the nation. His calibre and intellect have been admired by the entire world. A chaiwalla rising to the top speaks volumes for his abilities. He is the Robin Hood of our times. He has shaken the nation from its slumber. He will set right the economy which resembles an inverted pyramid. Make the foundation strong and cut off the flab at the top. Empower the youth, which is talented and deprived. Cut out the middleman who juices out the middle class and the poor. Get the rich to mend their ways and pay back their bank loans. Train the youth to build India.

CSR is the need of the hour; the easiest way to generate employment and reduce dependence on imports. With CSR we can create entrepreneurs and make them businessmen. We have to make room, allow and support youngsters to become entrepreneurs. Unless we groom entrepreneurs to become businessmen, we will remain an economy of middlemen. 

I agree that there is tremendous nervousness amongst businessmen like me. However the reason is not the slowing down of the economy. This is temporary. The change that has come about will work for the betterment of the country.

However, this change cannot take place overnight; it will come about with its share of casualties. The Government machinery is used to the old system in place for the past 70 years. The lack of accountability will not allow the bureaucracy to do any work that does not fall in line with the principle favour for favour. The change will need patience, understanding and sacrifices from all of us to reap its benefits in time to come.

If the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, it is the responsibility of the people to see that they support the government in the interest of the nation. We have elected the government, let’s team up and support the cause. 

There’s another reason for the people to be disturbed, which is imposing bans on religious grounds. I agree that no one has the authority to dictate individual consumption habits. What an individual does cannot be decided by the authorities who prohibit the sale of certain items for their agenda. I earnestly hope the leadership corrects this. India has a liberal culture and we should not allow religious fanaticism to dilute it. Things are looking up for us as a nation. We have a leader who has set us on the right path.

Copyright ? 2020 Haresh Sippy

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