Gujarat Model Illusions, Myths, and Contradictions

There has been enough systematic and well-orchestrated hype over the much-repeated word Gujarat Model, across the country and more so at the time of any general elections. Just like there are professional big mouths tom-toming the oft-repeated cliche there is no dearth of dissenting voices against the same. But on the ground, it looks like there are no takers for such arguments.

Image Source: Elets News Network

Only campaigners or baiters: A tour with journalist friends in the poll-bound industrious state and meeting a variety of people give rise to only two kinds of opinions. Either you hear a vociferous campaign favouring the double engine administration or others baiting both the dispensation. It looks like there is no space for a third or neutral voice.

Unimaginable progress over the years: Dr Deepa Nadkarni, a general practitioner based out of Ankleshwar in Bharuch district recollects-“I came to Ankleshwar in 1995 to practice. Then I was carrying my infant kid and the house we entered had neither lights nor water dipped from the taps. Gradually things started changing for the better over a period of time. Thanks to Narendra Modi as Chief Minister, it was a sea change on the ground. Now you have a 24x7 power supply and no dearth of drinking water…

…Polluting industries shut: Yes, rapid industrialization followed by urbanization paved way for huge pollution thereby leading to multiple ailments. But, again thanks to the successive BJP governments the norms for polluting industries have become rigid to such an extent that many of them had to pull shutters permanently. The basic infrastructure has improved significantly, and as Guajaratis’ are friendly, people from across the country make a beeline to work, live and settle here”, says the popular doctor who goes to nearby villages in the evening for free medical checkups and treatment.

 

                                                   Image Source: The Indian Express

Nightmare got over long back: Ms Nitaben Vinaykumar Brahmbhatt, a housemaker who keeps shifting between Ahmadabad and Ankaleshwar for domestic commitments heaves a sigh of relief-“Well, the law and order situation has completely changed for the better in comparison to the situation a couple of decades earlier. If you imagine the challenging times that prevailed then, now it’s much much better. Not only that, the conditions you are witnessing now can only be described as you need nothing more to add”.

Digitization in a big way: Sunil Nadkarni, a Chemical Engineer by profession is a fully-fledged Gujarati by whatever way you look at. He lists out factors responsible for the growth of the state in a mind-boggling manner-“Thanks to digitization, things have become easier for citizens to access the government services. Much of the civic issues which are quite rampant elsewhere do not find a place here”, he exclaims.

Comparison: Development, irrespective of parties in power keeps happening in all states. But, the pace and phenomenal growth can be only understood if you happen to compare a decade's growth with the previous party's performance. Likewise, Congress has ruled the state for the first and almost 48 years. Only if you happen to compare the decade-wise development, will you come to know the real big difference feels Sunil Nadkarni, the Chemical Engineer turned entrepreneur cum consultant who now has evolved into a Rotarian doing noble tasks for the society.

Need of a strong leader, party: He is also of the firm opinion that to take Narendra Modi head on, you need a strong leader and a single political party, unlike the present Kichadi combination. These two elements are also essential and required in the overall interests of a vibrant Democracy.

Publicity is a necessity these days: There have been a lot of hues and cries over the publicity campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If those in power don’t talk about the achievements done during their previous tenure, then who else can speak about them on their behalf? Perhaps, there is nothing wrong in indulging in such a publicity campaign as hell has been let loose on the social networking platforms, signs off Sunil Nadkarni.

A bogus model: Utpal N.Desai, a veteran journalist based out of the tribal Valsad district with multiple decades in the profession having worked in Mumbai and Gujarat has been an eyewitness to the gradual and rapid transformation in his home state. He, after initially showering praises on the swift economic progress, becomes candid when quizzed with a ground-level predicament. Utpal N. Desai didn't mince words while describing the Gujarat Model theories-"In fact, the Gujarat Model of progress and development is a bogus and a failed one. But the ruling party and government have the media in its pockets guaranteeing no anti-establishment reports…

…Wages an issue, but unattended: If Vapi is considered to be the country’s largest industrial development corporation area, Valsad district boasts of five IDC areas. There are 3,000 factories generating employment for six lakh people. About sixty per cent of the workers are from other states like UP, Rajasthan, Odisha and Punjab. However, the contract wages system continues to remain a perennial issue not being attended to. The labourers’ are paid Rs 300 per day and no salary is paid for the four holidays in the month. Although the employers get the signatures for payment of Rs 16,000 as wages, in reality, they are paid less than Rs 8,000/-. Contractors from the Saurashtra region run this contract system but the opposition parties have failed to raise this issue, he elaborates.

Government’s role lauded: Utpal N.Desai, who also happens to be the President of Valsad Media Association, gives full marks to the state government for its role in fostering educational facilities in the tribal belt-“Thanks to the increasing number of government schools, colleges and measures to encourage schooling, the drop out percentage has dropped from an alarming 37 per cent to just 1.5 per cent. This change around of situation has helped a lot in imparting education”.

Engineering colleges getting closed: He admits-“No doubt these days there is no dearth of government and private Engineering colleges in the state, the same cannot be told about the educational quality. Hence, many aspiring students prefer to go to other states while many schools and colleges here are getting closed”.

10 lakh government jobs not filled: While dwelling on the prevailing conditions Utpal N.Desai continues-“Apart from cheating labourers’ with salary signed on papers, the families of deceased labourers’ dying on duty are not paid with compensation. About 10 lakh government jobs have not been filled as a result of a leak of question papers for a record number of 23 times. Maybe the road infrastructure is good there are enough complaints of corruption. In fact, the Gujarat Model is a failed one but thanks to the all obedient media which keeps proclaiming the same as the best model”.

Five years on contract: The paradoxical thing about government jobs here is that the prospective government employees will be on contract for a five years term. Only after the successful completion of the contract period, the services will be regularized. Under the ‘Vidya Sahay’ scheme Teachers in government schools are paid Rs 7,500/- honorarium and Rs 35,000/- after confirmation on completing the first five years. But managing the initial five years itself has become a big challenge and as a result, many of them quit in the middle, he says.

Transparent method: There are many who appreciate the five years contractual system for government service. Gurunath Mujumdar, DGM of an MNC in Surat opines-“This is the best transparent method of recruiting people to government service without paying bribes to anyone. In other states, no one can even dream of getting a government job without paying hefty money to politicians, bureaucrats and middlemen. Here nothing of that sort works”.

PHC network yet to improve: Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the only high-tech hospital in the government sector has no comparison in the whole country. But for such an exception, the Primary Health Center network has a long way to go.

Image Source: Ahmedabad Mirror

Prohibition leads to spurious liquor tragedies: Gujarat has gone dry officially for decades but you name the brand you will get it, of course for a premium price. In the bargain cops and bureaucrats are minting while the exchequer hardly gets any revenue worth mentioning. But in the process, people who cannot afford black-market rates find rescue in spurious liquor thus leading to several hooch tragedies every now and then. Many villages are burdened with young widows making their and their families' live miserable and cruel. Yet, there is no thought or study on the subject to attend to the grave problem.

 

Swachh Bharat in Gujarat: 18,261 villages of the state have verified Open Defecation Free (ODF) in 2018 after three months of the declaration. Sitaram Kedaliya, a veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha leader went across the country on padayatra for five years. During his long march, one noticeable observation he made and shared with this reporter was that the Toilets for all project was a hundred per cent success on record. Thanks to the financial aid extended by the state governments, all households have toilets. But, people are not trained with a change of mindset to make use of the same. Hence, these toilets are being made use of as extra store rooms in many a village!

 

 

 

                                                 Image Source: Wikipedia

Interior places continue to stink: All main roads of towns and cities wear a splendid look and at times make you doubt whether you are within the country or elsewhere. The feeling is more so when you move around Surat, the country’s diamond and textile capital. But, if you happen to get into the market areas the situation is no better than most towns and cities of the country. In spite of tough regulations mandating the closure of polluting industrial units, you continue to experience peculiar types of chemical odour when you enter a new place. 

Demands voices bulldozed: Strange, it may look that the state government formed a five-minister committee in September last to quickly resolve issues with the potential of evolving into agitations. According to a report in The New Indian Express by its Associate Editor Dilip Singh Kshatriya, at least 17 protests were being staged in Ahmadabad alone. The protesters included teachers, class-4 government employees, health workers, farmers, aspirants for Lok Rakshak Dal (LRD) recruitment, kin of government employees who succumbed while on duty, forest guards, mid-day meal employees, secretariat clerical staff and village computer entrepreneurs.

Never saw so many protests earlier: Dilip Singh Kshatriya says in his report published on 23rd September-“Hundreds of serving and former state government employees resorted to a ‘pen-down’ strike demanding implementation of the old pension scheme (OPS). Chaudhary community launched protests against the arrest of their leader Vipul Chaudhary, for alleged misappropriation of Rs 750 crores during his tenure as the chairman of Mehsana Dudhsagar Diary. Farmers of North Gujarat are protesting against the Union Government’s ‘Bharatmala’ project while the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh is demanding uniform power tariffs for farmers. Following assurances, many protests have been withdrawn midway. According to political analyst Dilip Patel-“Gujarat has never seen so many protests ahead of polls”.

Several agitations in three months: According to the report, the following agitations took place in three months, prior to polls:

• Teachers’ agitation.
• Government employees OPS protest.
• Village Computer Entrepreneur employees strike.
• Anganwadi workers' agitation.
• Protest by Forest guards.
• Farmers and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh’s agitation.
• Lok Rakshak Dal unreserved candidates agitation.
• Separate agitation by government employees' families demanding jobs on compassionate grounds.
• Police families protesting for police-grade pay.
• Class 3 and 4 employees.
• Midday meal workers.
• Contractual employees.
• OPD Doctors.
• Academic Assistant position candidates.
• Education Assistant job candidates.
• Home Guards and GISF

In the nutshell, Gujarat no doubt has been an industrious state all along and evinced a giant leap following Narendra Modi becoming the Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Despite rapid progress in several areas, many more continue to be neglected for whatsoever reasons. The absence of formidable opposition, pro-people movements and lack of enthusiasm to strive for humanitarian growth look like hampering any change in these directions for the years to come.

-Manohar Yadavatti