TOI manifesto for new Maharashtra govt

On March 14 of this year, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, and just before the major political parties announced their manifestos, The Times of India came out with its own manifesto, with detailed proposals for the next government across a wide range of areas such as the economy, agriculture, health, education, women, urban development, energy, defence and internal security, foreign policy, legal and administrative reforms, and the environment. In the five months since it assumed office, the NDA government's policies — both in terms of directionality, as well on specific issues — have been in line with the letter and spirit of our manifesto.

The broad philosophy that underpinned our manifesto for the central government would be valid for a state government too. Obviously, there are areas where only the Centre can frame policy; but in others, such as education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and urban development, the goals and objectives would be similar, although the solutions might need to be localized.

Maharashtra is politically the second-largest state in the country with 48 MPs in the Lok Sabha. But in economic terms, it towers above every other state — about 80% larger than the next state (UP) and more than twice the size of Gujarat.

And yet, there is a gnawing sense of decline that goes beyond hard numbers. Some of it stems from Mumbai's expensive real estate, which drove many of the multinationals that entered India in the 1990s to base their headquarters in Gurgaon (proximity to the capital was another reason). Maharashtra also faced growing competition from other parts of the country for investments, particularly states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat which offered both domestic and foreign companies attractive incentives to set up manufacturing facilities in emerging industrial hubs.

But a lot of Mumbai and Maharashtra's problems are of its own making—led by the decline and decay of its institutions. Look at the state of Mumbai University and Mumbai Police, what they once were and what they are today. Inefficiency, political interference and corruption have been eating away at the foundation of Maharashtra's administrative framework. This is where Devendra Fadnavis will need to focus first; everything else will follow. But this will also be the most difficult, because of the vested interests that have entrenched themselves in the system over the years.

It's time to arrest the slide, and restore our city and state to their former glory.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=ManifesTOI,Manifesto,Maharashtra govt,Lok Sabha elections

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