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Analysis
100 Days of UPA Government
Miles to Go and
Many Promises to Keep
by
Murali Krishnan
The performance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government in the
first 100 days of its second tryst with power following an electoral
verdict that amazed pollsters and Congress members alike has been a
mixed bag - high on intent but inconsistent in terms of delivery.
After hiccups caused by the deadlock in negotiations with some of its
pre-poll allies over portfolio allocations, Manmohan Singh put together
his full team, combining youth and experience to get down to the
business of governance. Clearly, the emphasis has been on the United
Progressive Alliance's (UPA) unfinished agenda, especially in the
infrastructure and development sectors, and announcement of a fresh
stimulus package to pull the economy out of the present global slowdown.
Giving a push to its rural development and employment programmes - a
major factor for its renewed mandate, a whopping Rs.391 billion ($8
billion) was set aside for the UPA's flagship National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme, a jump of over 114 percent from the previous outlay in
addition to increased allocation for the Bharat Nirman programme that
seeks to improve infrastructure in villages.
Besides, the government saw through a historic Right to Education Bill
that ensures free and compulsory education to children aged between six
to 14 years, ushered a revamped Companies Bill and unveiled a draft
direct tax code that will replace the nearly five-decade-old Income Tax
Act.
According to historian Ramachandra Guha, 100 days could not be a
yardstick to judge a government's performance but he was optimistic.
"I am not sure if we can evaluate the government on what they have
achieved and what they have not. Many things have happened and policies
have been framed. I will give them 50-50," Guha told IANS.
Recognizing that the lack of identity proof has resulted in harassment
and denial of services to the poor and marginalized, the prime minister
is according high priority to the newly constituted Unique
Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) that will provide a single
identity number and card to each of the country's 1.17 billion people.
"Things are being put in place, policies are at different stages of
implementation. In some cases, financial allocations are being made
while in other cases approvals are needed from competent authorities
before legislation," said Sriram Khanna, a professor at the prestigious
Delhi School of Economics.
"The jury is still out on how the 100 days have passed but the moot
point is that people will want this government to deliver and live up to
its promises."
In the midst of the slowdown that is showing signs of recovery, the
government has also had to focus its energies on a drought, the worst in
nearly two decades, and battle with the problem of containing swine flu
that has claimed more than 75 lives and affected over 3,000 people.
A deficit of more than six million hectares has been reported in paddy,
which is the worst affected crop, and almost 252 of the 626 districts in
the country have been declared drought-hit.
"This is clearly a big crisis that the government faces and somehow it
is not showing the urgency that is required. Sharad Pawar, the
agriculture minister, has not been able to act and there is a gaping
hole in his ministry," said Meghnad Desai, British economist and Labor
politician, who claims to be a good friend of Manmohan Singh.
"He (Singh) has several competent ministers in Pranab Mukherjee and P.
Chidambaram and even Murli Deora but somehow despite India being a
rising power, we do not have a cabinet that reflects a super power,"
Desai told IANS.
On the security front, having described the Mumbai terror strike as the
tipping point to revamp national security, Manmohan Singh has continued
to stress on putting in place critical strategies, fill police vacancies
and strengthen intelligence systems to thwart further attacks. However,
there is still a long way to go to secure the country.
The government had to face some uncomfortable moments after Manmohan
Singh's trip to the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Egypt where a
joint statement delinked terror from the composite dialogue with
Pakistan and also included a controversial reference to trouble-hit
Balochistan.
Though the opposition claimed it was a surrender of "national interest",
the prime minister stood his ground saying he had not broken national
consensus and pointed out that the only way forward to mend relations
with Pakistan was to begin to trust despite all that had happened in the
past.
"Not trust blindly, but trust and verify," he said, borrowing a
signature phrase of the late US president Ronald Reagan.
The challenges before the government are plenty and, in many cases,
difficult. Soon after he was sworn in, Manmohan Singh quoted French
Romantic writer Victor Hugo as saying that "No power on earth can stop
an idea whose time has come".
How he and his government turn that idea to purposeful action will be
keenly watched.
August 28, 2009
100 Days of UPA Government
Price Rise, Food Insecurity Mar UPA Performance
by Manish Chand
Miles to Go and Many Promises to Keep by Murali
Krishnan
UPA Economic Drive Moves in Fits and Starts by
Anuradha Shukla and Sanjay Singh
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