This is a special issue in which we carry one article on each theme. On the first theme, we carry a report on the recently concluded Rashtriya Sadbhavana Yatra, Uttarakhand, which covered nearly the whole state in a 45-day period. The objective of the Yatra was to spread Sadbhavana (mutuality, sincere fellow-feeling) as it is the very basis of the ideals of Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity cited in the preamble of the Constitution. The article, in Hindi, describes the itinerary of the workshop, the highlights of discussions with the people during the Yatra, and the resolutions in the concluding event.
The second theme — Governance and Development — is explored through an article based on a presentation made in Bihar, giving an overview of the environmental, social, economic, and fiscal situation of the state. This was done at a workshop titled Bihar Vimarsh in Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Bettiah, and more workshops are to be held in Purnea and Patna.
The third article deals with the theme Growth with Employment. Using recently published Government data from the Annual Survey of Industries, it shows how this is not happening adequately in Gujarat, which leads in the growth of capital investment, while Tamil Nadu leads in terms of factory employment. We also carry a small item on one particular industrialist from Gujarat and the meteoric rise in his net worth. Even he seems to concede the need for more widespread investment in health, education, and skills, and has earmarked ₹60,000 crore for philanthropic expenditure in these fields.
The next article deals with the theme Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability. The RGICS has recently concluded a year-long, eight-state study on groundwater. One of the objectives was to identify and document locally appropriate solutions for regeneration and sustainable management of groundwater. We carry an article which describes the status of groundwater in Maharashtra, and discusses some innovations on groundwater recharge developed by some NGOs with the active participation of local communities.
In the fifth theme, India’s Place in the World, we discuss the recent meeting of India’s Prime Minister with the Russian President and, in that context, reproduce an article by Dr. Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopal which asks the question: Why did Putin visit India (in Dec 2021)? The article has special value as the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place soon after that, and explains why India abstained in several UN resolutions condemning the invasion.
Policy Watch: Special Issue – June 2022
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