WHAT AILS INDIA?

The whole world recognises the potential of India to become a global economic superpower in the next few decades 

• in the light of availability of global opportunities arising out of the problems being faced by today's economic giants because of 

1. Unsuitable demography
2. Improper mix of human resource
3. Extremely high wage structure not in sync with the commercial aspects of all industrial activity.
4. Over spending on social security and welfare schemes
5. Need to replace current nearly obsolescent technologies with newer revolutionary technologies in the fields of energy security, logistics and transport incurring huge replacement costs. 
6. And above all, depletion of conventional natural resource reserves which have been the strength of twentieth century industrial revolution.

India is most favorably placed as far the demography, human resource and wage structure are concerned. The other irritants can be taken care of with a judicious proportioning of expenditure on welfare schemes and industrial productivity. But strangely enough no big results are either forth coming or appear to be forthcoming in future. Aptly one is forced into asking, ' What ails India' and it is not very hard to find out the answer to this. The following come to one's mind if you try to dwell on this subject.

• Lack of Vision and far sight: In the history of independent India, the vision and far sight were seen only during two periods, firstly during Nehru's times in the fifties and sixties of the last century covering the first three five year plans and  secondly during the time of Vajpai. After Nehru's era India went into a period of what has been described as a plan holiday by several analysts and a similar condition has perhaps developed during the last ten years also. During these periods the Indian leaders have only concentrated on hollow promises, vote catching gimmicks and rhetoric and worst still all government decisions seem to be motivated by politics and corrupt governance. The decisions on two main pillars of any booming economy i.e. the energy security and natural resource management neither show any vision nor any concern for the poor citizenry of this country. When the whole world seems to be moving towards renewable energy sources for ultimate, ever lasting, and relatively inexpensive energy security, India is lagging behind and is perhaps is being guided by national and international cartels of industry, nations and even scientific and technological power centres. Indian geographical and habitation scenario is perhaps most suited to Energy security with solar and wind energy but is perhaps not being pursued because these energy sources are not owned by any cartel or any power centre or any lobby. Water resource management has suffered because of this lack of vision, so much so that a country bestowed with abundant water from perennial rivers, a lot of rainfall is in the danger of a water crisis with ground water tables moving deeper and deeper. On one hand every year floods cause huge loss to agriculture and property while on the other millions suffer because of famines occur as a result of severe drought in many parts of the country.
• The lack of governance is the other major ailment that is pulling down India. In fact Indian government is a government sans governance. One is astonished to hear from the government that India neither has proper laws to fight crime, bribery, corruption etc. nor has the requisite infrastructure for quick disposal of law cases.The government seems to be a mere informer to the nation and takes pride in that. Who will find solution to these ailments is not known? Day in day out the country is made to understand that no individual or leader alone can fight these maladies and that the people have to become honest and responsible. If that happens by any miracle will the country need these rulers to waste national kitty on them, a vast majority out of them are   goons and buffoons who are ruling/ruining India. A reminder to the ruling class of the country

Good Economics and Good Governance is Ideal
Bad Economics and Good Governance is A Compromise
Good Economics and Bad Governance is Undesirable
Bad Economics and Bad/Corrupt Governance is A Disaster

• The irony of Indian situation is that India has embraced the last of the above four options with utter disregard to the quantum of doles, freebies, subsidies and administrative expenditure an economy can sustain. As if that were not enough every action of government with regard to natural resources like minerals, water, spectrum, land etc. is meant to be to the detriment of the nation and benefit of polity, powerful bureaucrats, industrialists and their stooges and cronies. So much so that India has  ignominiously earned for itself the epithet of A land of scams.

INDIA'S ENERGY SECURITY : RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

It was heartening to note that Indian government has finally seen  the reality of clean green energy and this was emphasized by none other than the Indian premier. While speaking at the fourth clean energy ministerial Indian Prime Minister pitches for subsidy to energize clean energy in the context of his opinion on the cost aspects of  power from new renewable energy sources in comparison to conventional fuel based energy sources. His assertions derive strength from the feed back from his experts which he has faithfully echoed . But as the head of the government of one billion plus and a visionary trying to catapult Indian march to prosperity he must understand that all scientific and technology experts also resist change just as any normal human being and additionally they tend to defend their expertise and technology for their own benefit and the benefit of their large following of scientists and technologists. Additionally he should have drawn his own conclusions in the light of the fact that so many global leaders and visionaries have embraced the renewable energy sources in a big way for ultimate energy security of their respective countries.

India is uniquely placed in this quest of energy security as it doesn't have to think that earlier investments will go down the drain as it has barely started its march towards this goal and our yearly addition requirements are much more than the replacement requirements of the developed world. Energy security through renewables is the only way ahead if India has to keep its date with the the great Indian dream of becoming world leaders.

India must think big and India must think with vision and far sight. Let India not follow the beaten path of energy requirement fulfillment as it came to mankind with the advancements of science, technology and material development. India must jump and skip some of the technologies to arrive at the ultimate goal of energy security. Gone are the days when big was beautiful and economic in Energy sector. Solar and wind power have the potential of revolutionizing this concept with their suitability and cost effectiveness in standalone, micro, mini and large grids. In the light of the fact that solar and wind are comparable if not cheaper when an all inclusive cost comparison including transmission /distribution losses and costs, logistics of raw materials, plant and grid maintenance and costs for reducing pollution and fighting global warming is made for cost to the consumer. Solar and wind power and are the only viable answers to the requirement of Energy Security not only for India but for almost all nations on our globe.