When Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the people from the ramparts of the Red Fort on this Independence Day (August 15), he mentioned the need to do away with the Planning Commission as it does not reflect the realities of today. He also emphasized the need for an institution that has team spirit and which strengthens India's federal structure. What the new institution may look like is far from being completely clear. Most experts opine that in all likelihood it is going to be a team of experts drawn from the states and the center and headed by the prime minister. The institutional framework and its real role at this juncture are far from clear.
Part 1 of the Constitution of India proclaims India as a Union of States. With the formation of Telangana on March 1, 2014 the total number of states now stands at 29, and the total number of union territories remains unchanged at seven. The importance of states cannot be overemphasized at this critical moment in India's history with Modi at the center, who had earlier headed the Gujarat government for close to 13 years. What this also points to is the growing influence of states in the federal structure of India. Modi is keen to strengthen the role individual states can play in determining their destinies.
The economic and administrative size of a state is often a bone of contention with respect to policymakers who would tend to settle for a size that is both economically and administratively viable. Some argue division of states is a good thing for unlocking value and for better administration within a smaller state. Others feel division of states per se causes a disequilibrium and is detrimental to regional identity.
At present, there are several very large and very small states in India. The diversity with respect to size especially in economic, linguistic, demographic and area terms is truly staggering. For a union government to understand and make policies taking into account all needs of all states is simply an exercise in vain. This would even go against the principles of decentralization and delegation of authority as envisaged in the 73rd amendment to the constitution, which calls for greater autonomy to not the second but the third level of governance. How can we ensure autonomy to the third level when it is missing at the second level?
The prime minister is well aware of this critical point and it will be worthwhile if he works with the states in building an atmosphere of trust where states can be made partners in development. Areas where the state could do much good to improve include necessities like food, electricity, access to healthcare, access to banking, access to clean water and affordable housing. While working on these basic realities, the states would also do a greater good in trying to foster investments from corporations which will give a boost to not just local firms, clusters and industry, but will also provide people with much need employment in that particular state. In time, these people could also set up their companies that may make these states not only competitive, but also self-reliant and prosperous in the long run.
Cities are the other building block of competitiveness which are often neglected. They are places of increased economic activity and prosperity. Cities, the world over have stood the test of time and are seen to be harbingers of economic prosperity and growth. They also are representative of identity and civilizational ethos. In India, adequate attention is not given to cities, which lie at the third level of governance. It is in lieu of the fact that municipal finances are in a pathetic state of affairs in India. This has led to several problems like non-availability of necessities like proper sanitation, proper housing and lack of proper infrastructure within the city. Cities, when they have proper finances, have sufficient wherewithal to absorb the increasing influx of people to urban areas. They also have greater chances of improvement in implementation as political opposition is lesser at the level of cities as compared to the state or at the central government level. In India, the 100 new smart cities initiative is a step in the right direction but much will depend on not just branding but improvements in finances, infrastructure and governance at this third level. What is required is not just 'smart' cities, but enabling cities with proper 'hard' and 'soft' elements to come together for creating both environmentally livable and economic viable cities. The focus will have to move away from either human elements or economy or environment and will have to incorporate elements of all the three else the point of 100 'smart' cities is just an eyewash.
One sincerely hopes that a focus truly on the second and third tiers of government, and more importantly, governance will do greater good not only to the Institutional framework of India but will also empower people to practice participative governance that forms the basis of India's democracy.
(This article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness & Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. He can reached at amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in and tweets @kautiliya)
