It Depends on How we Self Depend

Context: Atmanirbhar Bharat (AB) has a dual component of driving broader transformation and scope of transformation.

Sub-elements of AB:

• Breaking the Prevalent patterns of trade: in sectors like cotton textiles, electronics and software.
• Engaging in the global economy based on value-added production, not basic inputs.
• Creating an India fit for the Technology Age: using Indian innovation to bridge the technology gap with the world by leveraging our limited resources (For E.g., India’s Mars orbiter mission, Mangalyaan);
• Open Source Bharat: Welcoming and integrating global capital and technology on our terms in the form of ‘open-source Bharat’.

Way ahead for Atmanirbhar Bharat: Since it involves participative change with top-down facilitation its main building blocks should be the following:

• An ecosystem encouraging winners: 

• There should be support and protection for innovative ideas and winning business strategies.
• As a corollary, incumbents should not get a free ride to market domination.

• Simple regulatory regime: with business-friendly tax, land and labour reforms, responsive administration using the technology-based solution and comprehensive laws.
• Reducing Market Intervention: Removal of undue reliance on government sop, subsidies, regulatory arbitrage which fosters corruption, by having a sunset clause.
• Job Creation: Self Employment to be encouraged in order to create jobs and ‘Stand up India’ by supporting entrepreneurship, and 

• creating level playing field by providing regulatory, human, capital and technical support. 
• Innovativeness of the informal sector to adapt during a pandemic by taking shops online.

• A thriving informal sector will find innovative ways to compete, as we have seen with Kirana shops going online during Covid-19.

• Social Security: Resource Mobilisation towards health, education and transport on a priority basis.

• New Education Policy 2020 steps in the right direction, supplemented with the vocational and traditional skill development programme.
• Welfare initiative for a vulnerable section such as old age, farmers and their efficient delivery.

• Re-engineering Public-Private Partnership (PPP): PPP usually benefits private players disproportionately or get delayed in regulatory and auditory processes.

• There should be time-bound project timelines
• Transfer to a private party after being operational with government exit after getting a suitable risk-weighted return.

• Culture of Research and Development: By creating synergy between corporate, academia, and Government. Supporting Commercialization of R&D and profit-sharing with the researcher.
• Make For World: Need to incorporate global competitiveness by utilizing developing markets Asia and Africa as beachheads.
• Coherent Mission Management:

• Ending silos in governance 
• Making deployment of government resources flexible are critical to success
• Transformation of Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet and Chief Minter’s Office from power center into network nodes enforcing coordination overriding political differences.

Conclusion: Atmanirbhar Bharat, if successful, can indeed create ‘Unnat Bharat’.