Teach them how to fly

India is poised to grow at 6% in the near - future. This is excellent news and some experts are of the view that the economy may expand at 7%. The S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 57.2 in April. All sub components of the PMI made stronger contribution as the PMI figure for March was 56.4. This is also most welcome.

The per capita income of India is estimated to be around Rs.1,48.524 for 2021-2022.

Around 15 years back, a leading private sector bank reported that it pulled lakhs of households from below the poverty line status by giving them simple cattle loans of Rs.1.5 lakhs to Rs.2 lakhs. The households sold the milk and milk products.

A state in central India is doing something similar. It is providing milch cows and cow loans to the rural poor. The children are getting to drink milk and the womenfolk are making decent money – so much so that the men folk have joined their womenfolk in this business. The state government procures the cow dung in exchange for money and the cow dung so procured is used to make paint.

India is the diabetic capital of the world – recent science research shows that camel milk and goat milk is most beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. While nobody is suggesting that one stop medicines and concentrate on goat milk and camel milk – these can be additions in one’s diet to fight diabetes. Diabetes is a world - wide menace. Done right – this product (camel milk and goat milk) can be a win - win proposition. There is camel milk and goat milk available in the market – but usually in powder form – with very limited shelf life and at exorbitant prices. If the Amul milk story can be replicated across camel milk and goat milk, it would not only add a supplementary income for the rural poor but also boost exports besides local consumption. Goat cheese and sour cream are delicacies of the western world. The west is cognizant of the benefits of the clarified butter (read ghee) and turmeric latte. Time to introduce camel milk and goat milk. If, available fresh and in pouches like cow milk and at reasonable prices – it could also form a part of the diet of the rural poor and urban poor and mid days meals of the under privileged children. India is reportedly setting up the largest cold storage refrigeration chain and that too in the cooperative sector. There would be benefits to make it inclusive of goat milk and camel milk. A leading yog guru has espoused the benefits of goat milk and cow milk in the fight against diabetes in the public domain. India also has a robust microfinance system wherein this can be integrated.

?According to newspaper reports, some states are witnessing robust religious tourism during weekends and long weekends. This led a state in north India to declare that it will soon provide last mile road connectivity to benefit. Tourism and road construction are well known lubricants of the economic cycle. One of the very famous temples of this latter state has a most interesting website – one could book taxis and hotels all via the temple website and, also order puja. Besides one could order the state specific eatables like pickles and papad and sun dried and half cooked subzis which can be quickly cooked, festive wear and sweets and silver items. This is most useful and other temples could also emulate. This state is known for its handicrafts and handicrafts exports are strong – so maybe this addition would be beneficial. All large temples in India have their own websites but not all. Large temples are building super speciality hospitals and provide free treatment and food to the needy. These large temples have the necessary band-with and expertise. Most of the temples are under government control. Why not have websites wherein the local artisans gets to sell her goods – like pickles, papad, eatables, festive wear, silver/brass/copper items, handicrafts etc.? Why not have a skills training centre associated, wherein the local women get trained and sell their wares? They could also be onboarded to ONDC to increase their visibility. Let the youth get white collar and blue- collar jobs – let the middle- aged supplement their income as outlined above. Abhijit Banerji – the Nobel laureate shares his recipe of Koshiari – an Egyptian dish which he serves not only with tomato ketchup as Egypt does but also with achar. With a very strong diaspora overseas and influx of foreign tourists, this should also be win - win.

India has found a way of reusing plastic and making jackets. India has also found a way to reuse dead flowers to make incense sticks – the temples could join the bandwagon – some have – not all -they have plenty of plastic and dead flowers in and around the temple to further augment the income of the local people.

Speaking of flowers – Bangalore newspapers reported in 2020 that the top - notch flower decorators in Bangalore and Mumbai were charging as much as Rs. 50 lakhs per event. This is mind boggling and even with imported flowers and rare flowers - a lucrative business – why not train our youth via the skills training program in this?

While on temples – an Indian news channels did a long weekends program on the various temples of India – while some of it is known – there were places like Unnakoti in North East with stone wall carvings and beautiful lakes and rivers and caves – so beautiful that one is reminded of Amar Chitra Katha illustrations – awe inspiring and breath - taking beauty – serene and not a soul in sight with stone carvings so high that one wonders how did any man carve so high? Then there was this temple in central India - the Lord Shiva idol is perpetually wet at the neck – folk lore has it that Lord Shiva is Neelkanth – he holds poison in his throat so continually sweats – scientists say maybe there is some internal mountain stream but there is no clear-cut answer. There were many off beat / off circuit destinations. Maybe if these could be popularised – India gets to show its beauty and early heritage and civilization to the world.

Speaking of North East – about a decade back a top - notch politician and a Bollywood star went mountain biking in North East. The Tour de France is through the scenic Alps and a test of grit and stamina and mental toughness – yeh dil maange more! We would love to see a Tour de India – if they have the Alps – we have the Himalayas. Similarly, it would be nice to have a Grand prix circuit in India.

Last year, I taught a course at one of the IIMs – the class was bright and they were also being taught data analytics and creativity – Data analytics I understand – but creativity? I was sceptical till I saw a few social media videos of men and women of foreign origin making beautiful lamp shades and garden furniture and wall and table decoration pieces just from empty soda cans and beer cans – all using simple tools – Sometimes the young minds need to be jogged a bit. Ayn Rand and her famous architect and sculptures anyone? Maybe if more kids use handy tools and learn a bit formally – it would definitely go a long way – the iTIs could teach young kids how to handle tools and India would soon have a vibrant sculpture ecosystem besides fashion designing and art. The West does have kids designing treehouses and cars out of scrap and dad’s second - hand car engine! India does have ingenious rural youth like the young lady whose bicycle generates electricity and the gentleman from Kerala who has many inventions handy around the house.

Let’s all fly! Teach them how to fly!