Flights Of Fantasy
[ M Panging Pao ]
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has messed up the economy of the world, including India and Arunachal. The world economy went into recession and targets set by the budget could not be achieved. Nevertheless, with expedited vaccination, India and Arunachal are on the verge of achieving herd immunity against Covid-19, and this leads to expectations of an economic recovery with a positive budget.
Due to the economic recession due the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of people lost their jobs due to closure/slowing down of many industries. With tourism badly impacted, thousands of people employed in the tourism and hospitality sector lost their livelihoods. Therefore, there is a need to rejuvenate the economy and create more jobs. With job openings in the government sector already saturated, the only way of generating jobs is by reviving industries and boosting tourism.
Towards reviving industries, there is need to create a separate department called ‘ease of doing business’ with an aim of boosting new industries and reviving existing industries. This department should be entrusted with simplifying and expediting procedures and paperwork by ensuring a truly ‘single window’ clearance system. Existing industries should be boosted by enforcing ‘Vocal for local’ in letter and spirit. Government departments and government-supported institutions should compulsorily procure from local manufacturers only. Another step is for the state government to adopt and handhold a few industries in all major sectors like textiles, wine and liquor, packaged water, sports, etc. These selected industries should be boosted for a short period of 3-4 years to make these industries self-sustaining. This cycle should be repeated every 3-4 years to include left-out industries.
The tourism sector needs to be revived and boosted in selected sectors with incentives and grants. Arunachal as a preferred tourist destination may be aggressively promoted through a dedicated media/PR campaign. Incentives and grants may be given to potential tourist operators.
Another key aspect in employment generation is skill development. Skill development programmes in different sectors should be accelerated to equip our youth with professional skills like tailoring, beautician, hospitality, computer applications, driving, electrician, plumbing, mechanic, etc. Once the required skills are acquired, our youth can pick up suitable jobs both within and outside the state.
In the agri-horti sector, the prime requirements are to skill and help our farmers in packaging finished products to reduce damage and prolong shelf lives. The other way to prolong product shelf life is by provisioning of cold storages at key locations. Similarly, selected agripreneurs may be promoted in fisheries, poultry and livestock sectors.
Stabilized electricity is the basic requirement for sustaining all sectors, including industries, tourism, hospitality, etc. Though electricity is surplus in our state, the transmission lines fail frequently, leading to erratic supply. There is a need to expedite alternative transmission lines.
The wish list is long. However, a positive budget would ensure revival of the economy and provide jobs for the unemployed locals. ‘Vocal for local’ should be vigorously pursued in order to ensure Atmanirbhar Arunachal Pradesh. (The contributor is retired Group Captain, Indian Air Force)
