NEW DELHI: As the world celebrates arrival of the new year 2015, for Union Council of Ministers it is “all work and no celebration”. With strict instructions to avoid corporate-style celebrations and attend office, several ministers have cancelled their plans and take up new challenges.
Here are few challenges that Modi’s ministers need to overcome and show commitment to the election mandate of development and good governance.
Social agenda: Social agenda of RSS may be hard to counter in the backdrop of Modi’s theme of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”.
Foreign relations: Modi has proved his mettle and made India proud. The way world looks at India today has changed. But the recent developments in Pakistan may be the biggest hurdle in future. While India needs to take on hostile Pakistan and China, recent developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan may prove to be the biggest huddle on Modi’s plans on foreign relations.
Corruption: Going by the rampant funding of black money in India politics, can any government deliver on this? If Modi does, he will remain the darling of the middle class for long.
Administrative reforms: This may be the most difficult task. But a seasoned plitician in Modi knows how to accomplish and he will certainly deliver.
Police reforms: Despite a Supreme Court deadline police reforms looks a distant dream. Since that is a State subject and politics in India heavily depends on misuse of police, few politicians will truly want any reforms except an eyewash.
Judicial reforms: In today’s context “justice delayed is justice denied” lies only on paper. To clear the huge backlog of cases, judicial reforms is urgently required. The government and judiciary need to take the issue more seriously and show their commitment in action if they want to instill common man’s faith in the system.
Labour reforms: The first breakthrough of the Modi government was on this area. However, that is the beginning and the government has go a long way on this.
Health services: Public health services are poor across the nation. Will the government be able to improve this? Time will say.
Economic reforms: India currently ranks at 142 in World Bank’s Doing Business Survey and need to rise with more big ticket reforms which may also help in winning the trust of foreign investors. Only then will the government be able to deliver on unemployment, the biggest problem India faces for decades.
Railway reforms: For two decades, Indian Railways is the biggest victim of populist politics. Modi has shown his commitment by getting a dynamic minister to take charge of the ministry. Being the lifeline of Indian public transport, Modi government’s success is also tied to this ministry.
