UP’s growth: Experts for change in subsidy system
LUCKNOW: Scaling unemployment, corruption and lopsided implementation of development schemes were some of the ‘grave issues’ that topped the round-table discussion that a monthly magazine Hardnews organized in collaboration with Germany’s oldest political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) to discuss Uttar Pradesh’s transformation.
The informal talks also included problems and their solution. Academicians, politicians, entrepreneurs, social activists, bureaucrats, defence experts and other top personalities from different fields attended the discussion.
Marc Saxer, India representative, FES, who was part of the discussion, called India the darling of international investors but expressed concern over the growing unemployment in the country. He also highlighted other issues that had an adverse effect on UP’s growth. However, he said UP was an important state and to know India, one should first know UP.
Saurabh Chandra, ex-petroleum secretary (GOI) said policy makers should create more jobs. Chandra also stressed upon the need for making changes in the system of giving subsidies. “Why don’t we give subsidies on area basis? It’s going to make a big difference,” he said .
Some participants also highlighted the issue of poor implementation of government schemes and growing corruption. In response to the questions, the representatives of the state government blamed the previous government for the the poor development of the state . “The previous government is to be blamed for this. We are progressing with each passing day,” said Sanjay Lathar, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, in his address to the gathering. There was also a ‘question hour’ session, in which Sanjay Kapoor, editor Hardnews, Madhukar Jaitely, MLC SP, senior Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi, social activist Jyotsna Habibulla, Kanak Rekha Chauhan and others were present.