[Reader-list] GUJARAT ASSESSMENT BY PRAIN SHETH

[Bipin]

Why is Gujarat state No 1 

Gujarat's GDP has been growing at 12 per cent, as fast as China's, under the
leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi; this has left many states behind

By Pravin Sheth 

 

Though critical issues like unemployment, low indicators of social
development (HDI) and population living Below Poverty Line (BPL) cannot be
overlooked, it was persistent under all regimes. Modi and Health Minister J
N Vyas have floated several credible schemes to improve the state's
performance on HDI. The state government has also earmarked financial aid of
Rs 1,500 crore for 25 lakh poor families which will be delivered by 2010.
While 1.43 BPL families will get plots to build houses, about 2.59 lakh
families will be given houses before May 2011. Modi government aims at
providing jobs to 10 lakh youths, water supply to 12,000 villages and
electricity to 17,940 villages.

 

http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/59/2010022520100225030851448ca24ad6/W
hy-is-Gujarat-state-No-1.html

 

Posted On Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 03:08:51 AM 

 

Not a month goes without news reports highlighting the achievement and
development of Gujarat. Reports on the recent developments evince that
Gujarat is a "happening state" which entitles it to be ranked first among
all Indian states.

 

Agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan rightly puts it, "Gujarat owes it to a
scientific and integrated approach to agriculture during Narendra Modi's
tenure which is backed by a sharp vision."

 

The initiative of Modi government to provide soil health cards to farmers
has brought second 'Green Revolution' in Gujarat. The state has now changed
gears to become an auto hub. After Tata, Hero Honda, the world's largest
two-wheeler maker, is set to establish a manufacturing unit in the state.

 

Gujarat has highly diversified industries - from diamonds to denim,
fertilisers to pharmaceuticals, automobile to milk products, cotton,
art-silk, ceramics and oil seeds. Most of these industries have notched up
top slots in terms of production - in India and world alike.

 

Gujarat contributes to 40 per cent of the country's pharma and art-silk
industries, 80 per cent of polished diamond industry and 11 per cent of the
world's chemical exports. The state government has formed a land bank of
50,000 hectares for industrial houses to choose the sites online. 

 

For past 12 years, Gujarat's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has been growing
at 12 per cent - as fast as China's. Gujaratis, who hold 30 per cent of
scrips floating in the market, account for 16 per cent of Indian exports and
17 per cent of GDP. The state is India's petro-gas capital. Political
stability, entrepreneurial spirit and ever-improving infra-structure attract
capital and entrepreneurs from East Asia, the West and even from the Middle
East. Country's largest social base of business class of Banias, Parsis,
Khojas, Bohras constitutes Gujarat's business community. A
commercially-tuned culture and Modi's resourceful leadership have made
Gujarat the most "fast forward state of India". 

 

Though critical issues like unemployment, low indicators of social
development (HDI) and population living Below Poverty Line (BPL) cannot be
overlooked, it was persistent under all regimes.

 

Modi and Health Minister J N Vyas have floated several credible schemes to
improve the state's performance on HDI. The state government has also
earmarked financial aid of Rs 1,500 crore for 25 lakh poor families which
will be delivered by 2010. While 1.43 BPL families will get plots to build
houses, about 2.59 lakh families will be given houses before May 2011. Modi
government aims at providing jobs to 10 lakh youths, water supply to 12,000
villages and electricity to 17,940 villages. 

 

Also, the government departments will be graded according to their
performance in achieving the goal. The state has sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore
for Sakhi Mandals to micro-finance thousands of women. 

 

Gujarat has bagged several prestigious awards like UN Sasakawa Award for
disaster mitigation, CAPAM award for innovation in governance, UNESCO award,
CSI award for e-governance and Indiatech award in power sector. 

 

The state is front-runner in attracting industrial investment (MoUs). It is
first in implementing major health care services. Besides, availability and
utility of infrastructure and state-wide fibre-optic connectivity puts it on
world map.

 

Gujarat's synergising relationship with its Diaspora demonstrates what
Gujarat has achieved under the Modi government. Clinton Foundation has
awarded Gujarat the world's largest solar plant and 34 solar projects are in
the pipeline. 

 

The state has the distinction of housing India's first tidal energy project
and the largest wind energy farm. Ahmedabad has a world class public
transport system which serves 44 million people and helps in saving 37 lakh
tonnes of carbon emission. The state has country's biggest CNG and LNG
infrastructure. Ahmedabad, which was derided as the most polluted city in
2003, was recognised as 'Green City' by the UN in 2009.  

 

But, Mahuva-pattern land satyagrahas alert us against the possibility of
Gujarat becoming a mosaic of fragments of SEZ sub-states.

 

All these have sculpted Gujarat's image as a geo-economic power. New coastal
'Silver Corridor' with the development arc between its two gulfs and
knowledge corridor has wooed global players. Asian Tigers seek access to its
ports for taking goods to the Middle East and Europe. Japanese township near
Dholera and Koreans' near Valsad has raised the state's international
profile. Gujaratis ask: "Miles to go, but compared to other states isn't our
glass more than half full?" 

 

One of the city's most eminent political analysts, Pravin Sheth dissects the
twists and turns of policy in Gujarat