Time to deliver for UPA

Congress led UPA's win at the General Election 2009 can be credited o both NREGA and BJP's negative campaign. The dust has now settled down and it's the time to deliver. The grand old party should now indulge itself to some serious work...

CJ: abhishek k. jaiswal

Sun, Jun 28, 2009 10:38:19 IST

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Congress News :

POLITICS IS always uncertain. The simple philosophy of getting to the bottom of the politics is expect the unexpected. The credibility of this statement can be seen in the triumphant victory of the Congress led UPA in the the recently concluded 2009 General Election with the support of some new found friends in Trinamool Congress and kicking the old 'opportunists'.

The alienating of the Left front has brought cheers to the India Inc. But the diminished role of the Left front has however synchronised the viability of a prudent thinking on our economic policy. The Left front had always provided a healthy debate on financial matters. Now, as the Congress has won the mandate hands down, it is important for it to sustain the confidence of the people, till the next round of the democratic exercise.

Congress' 'phoenix' performance is widely accredited to the NREGA and probably the high handednss hindutva-factor by the Bharatiya Janta Party. BJP'S negative campaign and ill-focused issues only added to the glory and shining of the Congress' revival after being duped as anti- incumbent.

The dust has now settled down and it's the time to deliver. The grand old party should now indulge itself to some serious work. The foundation of which can be categorised into four sectors.

First being the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act- which promises a minimum of 100 days of waged employment to the rural unemployed. The rural sector had put its weight behind the party because of the employment they have been provided. But because of the delayed monsoon and the scanty rainfall, as it is expected, the demands and the number of the daily wagers may soar. Also, the government has promised 25 kg of grains at Rs 3 per kg, which may become a sour throat for the government. To satisfy these demands will be a marathon task for the office bearers in the Delhi.

Second, is the Human Resource development. Providing primary education to the unprivileged and higher educational opportunities to the underprivileged will be a challenge. The urban literary ratio to the rural has shown improvement in the recent past but it needs to be sustained. Also, because of the economic slowdown, retaining and creating employment opportunities is needed, to maintain the youth support- on which the party hugely thrives upon.

Third, is the terror menace - both outsourced and homegrown. While the outsourced terror, which is a handiwork of our neighbour should be dealt in a fierce and more decisive manner whereas, the homegrown, local, Maoist threat needs to be handled diplomatically. The indigenous threat is spreading rapidly with the rising unrest among the deprived.

Incidentally, India is home to the largest number of local terror outfits spreading from the Northeastern states to deep down the south including the Deccan region. A recent study says, of the 34 terror outfits operating in India 27 are home- grown. The government should emulate more flagship programmes like the NREGA, to counter the laal salaam and make sure that the incidents like the Lalgarh are not repeated.

A nation's future is linked to the future of its Gen-X. But what if the Gen-X itself is under threat?

Fourth, but not the final, is health care. 'Not the final' because the word final carries a sense of completion with it and a government can never ever take the risk of doing away with its job. The recent economic survey for Delhi alone, shows that the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has climbed 50 per cent per year between 2005 and 2007, making Delhi the only state in the country outside some hapless regions of central Africa - to have a rising IMR.

The pathetic health care system itself needs some medication. Also, the health services should be cheap and affordable to the majority, who are below poverty level. The accessibility and awareness campaign by the government is needed to avert any pandemic arising in India.

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