Suggestions for Manifesto

To organize & streamline inputs from Friends of BJP to the BJP Manifesto Committee, we identified some common themes that would be of interest to the Friends of BJP.   These were the following:

1	Macro-economic policy	9	Healthcare for All
2	Agriculture & rural economy	10	Infrastructure, Housing & Civic Reform
3	Centre-State Relations	11	National Security - Internal & External
4	Education for All	12	Revival of Arts & Culture
5	Energy Security	13	Science & Technology
6	Environment & Wildlife	14	Social Justice & Harmony
7	Foreign Policy	15	Unemployment & Poverty Alleviation
8	Good Governance & Administrative Reform	16	Women’s Empowerment

To make our objectives manageable and in a defined time period (completion by end of first week of March), we further clubbed the above 16 topics into five clusters:

Economics and Business

• Macro-economic policy
• Agriculture & rural economy
• Unemployment & Poverty Alleviation
• Infrastructure, Housing & Civic Reform
• Energy Security

Governance & Politics

• Centre-State Relations
• Good Governance & Administrative Reform

Security & Foreign Policy

• National Security - Internal & External
• Foreign Policy

Social Issues

• Healthcare for All
• Women’s Empowerment
• Education for All
• Social Justice & Harmony

National Identity

• Revival of Arts & Culture
• Science & Technology
• Environment & Wildlife

For each of these themes we invited suggestions from everybody who had indicated an interest and are in the process of compiling a paper that we want to process.

We have made an attempt to make an outline on Topics I & IV, and present this here.  Using any inputs we get till EoD 4-Mar-2009, we will compile this into a final document.  Inputs may be sent to baman.mehta@friendsofbjp.org

Please note that these are only suggestion from Friends of BJP to the party and do not indicate any commitment on part of the party to include them in the manifesto.  We will also try to synthesize different inputs that we receive in common coherent themes so as to make our document usable.

Economy & Business

TOPIC	RECOMMENDATIONS	TARGETS
Growth	Disciplined Fiscal Program Greater private & foreign participation in restricted sectors (aviation, insurance, media, retail, banking) Re-start privatization Labor reforms Changing BPL definition	Double the per capita income of Rs.38084 in 08-09 within next 4 years Increase India’s contribution in international trade from 1.5% to 4% by 2014 Reduce fiscal deficit from 6% to 3% by 2014 Achieve compounded growth of 10% in GDP up to 2014 To rise from 48th position to among top 30 in Industry competitiveness by 2014 A developed nation status by 2020 By 2014, bring down the BPL population from 25% to 20%
Energy Security	Incentives for developing Alternate Energy sources with focused efforts on promoting biomass energy Build India’s nuclear capability independent of NPT based on availability of thorium and uranium	To raise percentage of renewables as a percentage of installed power capacity in India, from 8% to 12% by 2012 Biomass must make up 30% of the total renewable energy sources, considering its economic and environmental benefits over other renewable sources Reduced T&D losses by [XX] %
Agriculture	Water harvesting and recycling Joining of Rivers to improve water Table Agriculture chain	To implement the linking of 37 rivers estimated to cost Rs. 560,000 Cr by 2014 Move higher up in the agriculture value chain by increasing the processing of agriculture produce from less than 2% to 10% by 2014 (30% Brazil, 70% U.S and 82% Malaysia)
Infrastructure and Housing	PPP for growth Government should publish status report on each Infrastructure project along with the reasons for delays, if any	Achieve the target of $500 Bn investment in Infrastructure by 2012
Financial Reforms	Banking sector reform in line with the Raghuram Rajan Committee report Full capital account convertibility? Mumbai as an International Finanacial Centre	Implementation of recommendations given in Raghuram Rajan Committee report Achieving Full capital account convertibility by 2012 Reduce fiscal deficit from 6% to 3% by 2014

Social Issues

TOPIC	RECOMMENDATION	TARGETS
Education for all	Fundamental Right to Education upto Class XII PPP at every level of Educational pyramid Vocational Training “De-license” Higher education	Achieve 80% functional literacy (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) rate by 2014 from current estimate of 40% Reducing dropout rate of 90% -94%in schools, from K.G to 12th , to less than 10% by 2014 Establish vocational Education and Training (VET) institutes on PPP basis and cover at least 50 million people (10-12% of workforce) per year under VET. ( In developed countries, 80% of the youth from age of 14 to 35 go in for VET) Make AICTE an enabler, rather than controller
Healthcare for all	PPP in Healthcare Implementation of awareness programs for AIDS, Polio etc. Setting up of affordable healthcare facilities in urban and rural areas both	Initiate PPP in Healthcare to make the existing government institutions viable HIV prevalence in the general population is .36%. India is third worst affected country with HIV after South Africa (5.5m) and Nigeria (2.9 m). Hence
Employment Generation	Start Enterprise Skill Development (ESD) Reclassification of sectors for SMEs/SSIs	60% of total employment is self-employment, hence need to start ESD from 5th Class in all schools Widening the scope of SMEs (SSIs - 7% of GDP and SMEs - 90% of GDP)
Women empowerment	Strict enforcement of laws relating to foeticide, dowry, child marriage, trafficking, rape and family violence, Sexual Harassment at Workplace etc. Women Helplines for abandoned widows, victims of trafficking, mentally challenged women, and victims of calamities - and bringing in private and philanthropic participation	To rise in Gender Gap Index rank from 113th (2008) to within Top 100 in the world by 2011. (China jumped 17 places to 57th rank in 2008)

Questions for Arun Jaitley

Friends of BJP invites questions for meetings on Saturday  with Mr Arun Jaitley in Mumbai & Pune.

In addition, to impromptu questions during these meetings, we want to obtain maximum interaction with the senior BJP leadership.

Therefore, we will try to collect questions, club them in groups, obtain answers and send replies back.

You may enter your question as a comment to this post. We would also appreciate if you indicate your name and city, although should you choose not to, we would still welcome your questions.

To Be Fair…

by Anshuman Goenka

A friend remarked yesterday that my posts were getting more charged, and seemed more tilted in favor of the BJP. Apart from the fact that the insiders of the BJP may think that I am not toeing the party line enough, this remark actually underscores our message. We are not the BJP, but we are Friends of BJP, and not Friends of Neutrality.

Even so, as I promised in my initial post I am beholden to acknowledge what I see as good in the opposite camp.

To start with, the current government is led by a Prime Minister whose scholarship is not only unsurpassed among anybody who has held that office before but should be the pride of any Indian. More importantly, throughout his long and illustrious he has been known to be for the highest levels of probity. And most importantly, in a pleasant departure from the predecessors within his party, we do not see a fawning coterie around him that has been an irritant earlier. But as I mentioned earlier, all of these virtues, indeed great virtues do not adequately credit his tenure as Prime Minister, because the Prime Minister’s Office is first and foremost a political office. While Rajya Sabha members have run the PMO earlier, they always were the most important political authorities in their cabinet, which clearly is not true now.

There must be a clear, universally accepted legacy of a Prime Minister who has served five years in office. I will say that about the last three Congress Prime Ministers, none of whom I would have voted for - Indira Gandhi led the Bangladesh War & the Green Revolution, Rajiv Gandhi introduced IT and Narasimha Rao supported the 1991 reforms. But in the last five years, I see really nothing that I can count as the universally accepted meaningful legacy of this government.

There are a few things which are often cited as achievements.

First, the RTI, which best appeals to the middle-class sensibilities among Friends of BJP. This is a noble idea, very shabbily implemented. Unless pursued by one with clout within the government or one who has no other occupation but chase an application, this is a complete failure. The recent issue of Outlook shows how ineffective the systems have been in enforcing RTI and punishing those who violate its spirit.

Second, there was the very contentious nuclear deal with the US, which split the UPA and led to the rather unsavory Cash-for-Votes scam. Besides the indelible taint on the outgoing Lok Sabha, we are unsure of how robust this achievement will be in any event where we develop a difference of foreign policy opinion with our new ally.

Third, in some sections there is a support around farm loan waivers and NREGS. These are policies I believe have not only taken us away from the path of sensible fiscal prudence but actually have big gaping holes in implementation.

As a counterpoint, what could have been done, and indeed what should the next government do? Instead of levying an opaque additional tax, involve the private sector in the delivery of our #1 social priority that is education - using vouchers at the primary level and opening up the ground for legitimate private universities. Develop an education funding system that enables everybody to participate in the market. Use India’s latent growth potential and diminishing investment opportunities worldwide to bring fresh investment into sectors currently locked up, which can take us back to 8%+ growth in immediate term. But most importantly, work to reinstate the credibility of a participative, representative government free from the clutches of cronies of one family. Should any alternative other than the BJP be credibly promise to take us in that direction, to be fair, they too will have my support.

Jai Ho (2)

by Anshuman Goenka

Although not my favorite film of 2008, I was happy that Slumdog Millionaire brought recognition to a film set in, acted in and given music to by Indians (my pet peeve: I thought Dev Patel’s accent was a little jarring, and the graphic a little too rich).

The same day however, something more interesting began to make rounds of email boxes. The Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi has claimed credit for the film’s success and how they have provided for a “conducive atmosphere with emphasis on good governance contributing to an achieving India.”

I first thought this was a joke till there was a joke began to go around that the Congress should indeed claim credit for Slumdog Millionaire because they are responsible for slums in the first place. Those more familiar with how slums have been regularized repeatedly may see some dark humour.

Then, a colleague added that the title was doubly appropriate. Not only has the Congress made many slums, they have also made a few millionaires among their friends!

But jokes apart, the story of Jamal Malik is about the indomitable spirit of the ordinary and disenfranchised Indian, who probably does not browse the Friends of BJP site every day. However, notice how Jamal shares his hope of the better life with each of those who do browse this site. Also see just how angry and frustrated each of us feels when we encounter any organ of the state - whether at the passport or income-tax office, whether at the police station or a state-run educational institution. It is imperative to unshackle our hopes from the dependence of state doles, and to provide an environment more conducive than the slum of the films for these hopes to nurture.

PS: Outlook also has a quote from AM Singhvi suggesting that George W Bush be given a Bharat Ratna. I thought this was absolutely in line with our PM telling the former President that he was “dearly loved.” But maybe, just maybe, this was a tad undiplomatic coming soon after Bush’s politics has been voted out.

It’s Never Too Late

by Sushil Harlalka

NDA assumed Power in the real sense (i.e for a full term) only from 1998 to 2004. Is this short period enough to undo the deep rooted misdoings of previous successive Governments?It is not.And then again even this short period was further shortened by its Aliies for their Petty gains and NDA could really devote its energy and vision to productive work only in the last 2 years. This short period is grossly insufficient even to scrape out the muck leave aside weed it out. It was most unfortunate for our country that NDA was not given the opportunity to carry on its work for another term in continuation, to show its true mettle and to permanently put the country on Growth Path which process was just initiated by the Vajpayee Govt and bore fruit for UPA.  That is why I say— Its Never too late— Bring NDA back to Power and give it the opportunity which it deserves to prove itself. Give it an effective mandate free from opportunist local parties to deliver without compromises, to finish its unfinished Agenda.  READ ON

Soon after assuming Power, Mr. Vajpayee chose to go for the NUCLEAR TESTS at Pokhran, knowing fully well what was at stake. The economy being where it was and Sanctions of the so called Developed World to follow. Was it necessary for him to do this as soon as he took over? He had the guts, the Political Will and the wisdom to do it, despite all apprehensions.He still did it. He must have thought— DO THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS FIRST—.

He did it and the whole world closed upon us. Can we forget the disastrous effect on the Economy post Sanctions? And where are we now. Our present Nuclear Power is a legacy of this brave effort.

During these tumultous periods, NDA got no help from its Allies, thanks to a coalition set up. On the contrary some of is allies left no stone unturned, threatening to pull the plug at the slightest incidence for petty benefits.

Move further— A momentous occasion in History– like the friendship between INDIA and PAKISTAN, which was so well orchestrated by Mr. Vajpayee, what could have turned the history of 2 warring netghbours for all time— was sabotaged and KARGIL happened. Here again true leadership was at the fore, true grit was at display.

With all thase major situations to contend with during the first 3 years of its Govt. could NDA get any time to really devote itself to real work for its people, real core work for which it had formed the Govt? It was first only trying finding its feet and finally when it did, preciou 3 years had gone by. Never mind.

Despite all these upheavals and tumultous situations, NDA could do real work only for 2 years. And what they did. Read on:-

1) Earned the respect of the entire International Community for its handling of the Economy post Sanctions and not only come out of it but end it with a robust 5.8% growth, which was only carried forward by the present Govt.

2) Earned great admiration for its restraint and patience in dealing with a hostile nation, widely acknowledged by the entire World during the Kargil War;

3) A complete 180 degree differnce in the approach of the International Community towards not only India but the entire Indian Community and thw Indian Diaspora, resulting in Brand India being a Brand to reckon with. India and Indians acknowledged as an Intelligent, Honest, Sincere and Reliable Race.

Today it is these achievements of the NDA Govt. which is bearing us fruit and which agenda was left unfinished. That is why i said ITS NEVER TOO LATE. LET US DO IT THIS TIME AGAIN and vote them back to power with full strength without crutches. Jai Ho!

Vision 2014: What Would You Like to See?

Positive Ideas: Simple and Clear

by Anshuman Goenka

A few friends and correspondents to this blog have asked us to write something clear, definite and positive that the BJP or the NDA would do when voted to power.

As an avid supporter, but yet an unregistered member, I or other Friends of BJP can make no commitments. But I know one trustworthy senior politician somebody who can: LK Advani. There are five personal promises he makes to each of us. In five simple bullets these are:

1. Education for all, increased capacity with opening up of higher education, more vocational education and financial aid to complete education
2. Enhanced employment opportunities in new sectors and work in public life to improve policies and institutions, esp with a focus on non-farm employment in rural India
3. Security to pursue our lives and ambitions: no compromise, tougher laws, firm implementation
4. A green and clean India: Accountable, clear plans on environment and conservation
5. Rural prosperity & urban renewal, more cities, beautiful cities, enforced property rights, better municipal governance

When I saw this, I thought this was minimalist. Surely, this did not include many other things that I am sure the BJP would talk about in its manifesto, say on foreign policy or other aspects of India’s economy. Indeed any Government or PM will attend to many other matters and both the party manifesto and the NDA’s common program will make references to these areas. In fact, we are soliciting ideas & inputs from Friends of BJP, including specific recommendations and measurable outcomes.

But this is what I think is also commendable. It brings out real priorities, suggests that the government will focus on things that are feasible. It will not be everything nice to everybody, and probably it should not be. The move from traditional comprehensive platitudes to a clearer focus and sincerity is commendable. I also find a personal promise from the aspirant to the highest office of government quite unique and laudable.

In a career as a management consultant, investment banker and PE professional, one has met impressive individuals who one knows will stop at nothing to deliver on the commitments they have conviction on. Last week, two Friends of the BJP were invited by Mr Advani to his home. As one of them, I can assure you in my personal or professional life I have anybody whose sincerity or determination I would trust more.

Press Release: Formal Announcement

MUMBAI:  Aiming to counter voter apathy in the ensuing general elections, a national endeavour called “Friends of BJP” has been floated by a group of youth, professionals, entrepreneurs and concerned citizens. They have also launched their website at http://friendsofbjp.org.

“Friends of BJP” aims to become a national movement to steer the formation of an effective, efficient and a strong and stable government that will ensure that India realizes its potential as a super power in the real sense of the term.

Today’s youth in particular is much more aware of its rights and responsibilities. The rallying of people from a cross section during the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks has amply proved that people can be responsive and aware.

“Friends of BJP” is a subset of the educated civil society that is BJP-leaning, and willing to be vocal about it. It is not part of the BJP. It also does not agree with everything the BJP says or does. It believes that at this point of time the BJP is the better alternative.

“Friends of BJP” will strive to educate people from all walks of life to exercise their franchise. The national platform will relentlessly impress upon the people to vote.

The movement will employ a multi-tool strategy - from blogs, websites and SMS alerts to the traditional word-of-mouth campaign. The idea is to make everybody socially active. This may sound like a pompous statement, but the fact is that the goal is achievable since “Together we can make a difference”.

This is in fact, the first step towards getting people involved in the process of governance. The multi-faced activity will also have focus groups working on ten core issues like National Security, Economy and Employment, India in 2014, Urban and Rural Development, Education, Healthcare, Energy, Digital Infrastructure and Administrative Reforms.

“Friends of BJP” intends to support BJP in 3 ways:

• OUTREACH: Helping grow support virally for the BJP via the use of social media (mobile and online) and drawing room meetings
• IDEAS BANK: Provide a platform for members to channel inputs in multiple disciplines for the manifesto and to the BJP leadership
• VOTES and SEATS: Help BJP win more (urban) seats by using the assistance of members to get 1 lakh new vote(r)s in every constituency

“Friends of BJP” is confident that the movement will move drawing room discussions to group discussions and ultimately contribute to an improved voter turn out and a much better governance than what prevails now.

Mr. Arun Jaitley will formally launch “Friends of BJP” in Mumbai on Saturday at a function bring organized at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, at 10:30 am.

One can subscribe to daily updates of the national movement via mobile (sms 4BJP to 575758) or email (sub@friendsofbjp.org).

Elections 2009: An Opportunity to Learn

by Rajesh Jain

Bharat Nirman: Rain-check!

by Anshuman Goenka

Rajesh Sinha publishes some interesting statistics in today’s DNA on UPA’s performance record:

• Rural electrification: 13.8% of rural households provided connections. For BPL category alone, 19.3% target achieved
• Irrigation: Against a target of creating 10 million hectares (MHA), 5 MHA achieved
• Rural roads: 34% of targeted 66,802 habitations connected till December 2008. 1.63 lakh km of new & upgraded rural roads built against a target of 3.40 lakh km
• Rural water supply: Out of a total of 6.04 lakh habitations, about 4.64 lakh habitations covered

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