About Swadeshi Shodh Sansthan
Swadeshi ShodhSansthan(SSS) has been established to research on economic policies which shall make Bharat a developed country by 2047 and beyond. In this regard, the SSS has identified several focus areas of research which inter-alia include:
- Economy
- Demography
- Agricultural and Rural Economy
- Digital Economy
- MSME
- Start up
We have examined the election manifestos issued by several political parties and have tested them on the touchstone of above economic aspects. While analysing the manifestos the focus an for areas of employment, entrepreneurship, skilling and economic prosperity have been analysed.
Economy
All parties have stated their object to make India a manufacturing hub. While encouraging private sector is stated object of Indian National Congress (INC) yet it has indicated to have a relook at the proposed labour laws. INC is proposing to expand the scope of PLI to employment linked PLI. However, the examination of Bhartiya Janta Party’s (BJP) manifesto seem to suggest focus on encouraging self employment by further strengthening the start-up eco system and ensuring availability of required capital by enhancing the lending limits under the MUDRA scheme.
Demography
All parties have recognised the importance of demographic dividend. By and large all parties are promising to ameliorate the unemployment. However, on a deeper analysis, the manner in which they seek to tackle this challenge is different. While the CPI(M) and INC are propagating mandatory reservation of jobs in the private sector. BJP, while enhancing the job oppurtunities also seek to encourage youth to be entreprenuers and self-employed. INC is professing to encourage AI and robotics in order to enhance employment yet preserving the traditional technology. However, it is not clear that how the youth would be trained for the new age technology especially when INC is proposing to re-examine the NEP.
Agriculture and Rural Econnomy
The manifesto of INC on agriculture suggests to introduce E-market to be operated by an autonomous body to sell the products by farmers and introduction of digital ledger to upload sale and purchase agreement. CPI(M) though promises to make MSP a legal obligation to the tune of 1.5 times of the comprehensive cost. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is promising to enhance the disbursement in the PM Kisan Yojna from Rs 6000 to Rs 12000. The party, however, is silent on manner of raising funds to meet the required additional burden on exchequer.
The manifestos are also not addressing to contain the migration from Rural areas to urban areas. The manifestos are silent about how these parties, if voted to power, would create oppurtunities for youth living in Rural areas in their home towns. BJP, on the other hand, has indicated to enhance the loans under MUDRA scheme. Linking it with temple economy, the new age jobs and oppurtunites are envisaged by the BJP. It is also proposed by BJP to collobrate with design skill institutes to support traditional handicraft and upskill artisans. No such vision is there in the manifestos of other political parties except promising enhanced allocation for MNREGA which seek to address unskilled labour only. BJP in its manifesto has also talked about making India a hub for Toy Exports while capitalising cultural heritage.
Digital Economy
No specific mention of any measure to amplify digital economy has been discussed by most of the political parties. BJP, on the other hand, in its manifesto is promising to encourage MSME to use Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) which could lead a wide spread adoption of technology and thus give impetus to digital economy and revolutionise the business transaction in the same manner in which UPI did it for small businesses and turning the economy into a more formal setup.
MSME
INC promises to protect MSMEs from the online MNC operators by offering tax rebates and simplification of GST laws. Whereas, BJP seeks to enable MSMEs to enhance their capabilities through simplification of GST compliances, streamlining financial assistance and encourage use of ONDC while developing affordable insurance products and protection from cyber crimes. It also proposes to extend the last mile support to MSMEs by creating Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra.
Startup
INC has talked about abolition of ‘Angel Tax’ without addressing its ill effect, if any and also promised to restructure the fund scheme to enhance the allocation. BJP is proposing to further expand the success of Atal Tinkering Lab, Start up India and other similar initiatives to make Bharat a preferred destination for the start ups. It further seek to expand the capital availability through Start up India Seed Fund and Start up Credit Guarntee Scheme for the start ups besides mentoring them with globally recognised mentors. Besides, increasing government procurements from Start ups. DMK has promised in its manifesto for providing a single window clearance for the start ups at the national level.
