India News and Features Alliance (INFA) - Challenges Ahead:WILL PM PROVIDE NEW DISHA?, by Insaf, Poonam I Kaushish

Phew, some things never change in political Delhi. The hustling and muscling to partake the crumbs of office, read ministerial berths. For 11 long days New Delhi had a surfeit of gossip. Newspapers indulged in name-calling, political analysists played inky-pinky-ponky with politicians and portfolios. Couch potatoes made and unmade political careers at the drop of a hat. All proved wrong. In the end Sonia-Manmohan had their way and say. But will they end up smelling of roses?

Undoubtedly, for Manmohan Singh destiny has cast on him the most challenging role of his political career. On his shoulders rests the responsibility of giving a new ‘disha’ to India, torn asunder by caste, creed, crime and corruption. He has to knit it back into a strong cohesive one nation. Bring about a qualitative change for the betterment of the people. Specially the poor who eke out a living by scrounging dustbins and the illiterate who, sadly, continue to live in the last century. This would include building up the physical and social infrastructure. Get India to shine truly. New

Towards that end, the Prime Minister walking a tightrope has tactfully balanced the ministerial ambitions of partymen and allies in his 79-member strong Union Council of Ministers. A mixed bag of old and young, despite a few sulks and clamour of Dil maange more,, it includes 59 Congressmen, 7 each from the DMK and Trinamool, three from NCP and one each from the NC and Muslim League. There are 9 former Chief Ministers ostensibly to stop them from playing politics in their respective States and 9 women. A sum of “availability of talent” and “other considerations.”

True, to some extent it appears to be old wine in new bottles but nearly a third of the ministerial berths are new with 13 Ministers in their 40s and younger with the average ministerial age standing at 57. Importantly, four messages ring loud and clear. One, continuity of the core group to ensure stability seems to be the main thrust of Manmohan Singh’s Ministry. Two, there are no loose strings or part portfolios. Three, it is a mixture of sacrifice and satisfaction in forming a composite and capable team which gels. Four, ministers have been appointed wholly on the basis of demonstrable capability and probity. Said Singh, “it is a mixture of experience and energy”

That apart, the Prime Minister knows only to well that governance is no cakewalk given the colossal problems facing the country. Today the janata may be cheering balle-balle but once the honeymoon is over the aam aadmi would demand relief and accountability. Thus, Manmohan Singh’s biggest test would be to strike a balancing act between his reformist instincts and the socialist instincts of allies, notably the Trinimool. He intends bridging good economics with good politics by laying down policies of “economic reforms with a human face…. policies to promote balanced social and economic development.” Given his track-record of being a flexible and practical man it should be no problem.

Things are a mess all round. The economy shows little sign of recovery, the budget deficit is shooting up, agriculture is stagnating -- food grains rotting, no godown space left and exports banned. Infrastructure in most places is rusting and ramshackle even as India reels under no BSP --- bijli, sadak, paani. Food, health and education are an ongoing disaster story: 60 million children suffering from malnutrition, no basic right to education and subsidies that are a serious financial drain.

Team Manmohan is in a hurry, and ministers handling key infrastructure portfolios are not shying away from putting a date to their plans. The continuity of Ministers in petroleum, civil aviation, telecom, agriculture and urban development is expected to speed track pending policy measures in these key sectors.

Faced with India's highest fiscal deficit since the early 1990s, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had signalled the collective resolve to contain the burgeoning fiscal deficit of 9% even as he injects fresh stimulus to lift the country reeling under recession. He needs to lift growth amid a global slump and contracting domestic demand.

Happily, the Ministers handling HRD, roads, labour, telecom, petroleum, surface transport, steel and corporate affairs too have laid out their immediate agenda, with deadlines in place. HRD Minister Sibal has made plain his intentions of reforming the education system and giving higher education a push-up. India needs 1,500 universities to attain an enrolment target of 15% by 2015. Besides, he intends allowing reputed foreign universities in to integrate the country with the global knowledge system.

The new Surface Transport Minister Kamal Nath who changed lanes from commerce to roads has hinted at some hard action on the ground soon. He intends pulling the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) out of its present lethargy and put the much delayed expansion of the road networks on a fast track. A boost to road-building can act as a major stimulant for economic growth at this juncture.

On the foreign policy front, India has to grapple with the rapidly evolving scenarios in at least three countries in the neighbourhood: Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Pakistan remains New Delhi's biggest challenge after the Mumbai attacks. The relationship between South Asia's nuclear powers is dogged by mutual suspicion and Kashmir’s zero-sum game. New Delhi wants Islamabad to do more to crack down on militants operating on its soil. Both Sri Lanka and Nepal widely regard India with suspicion and loathing, heightened by China fueling the fires.

Internally the UPA Government has the toughest and most thankless task before it. It has not only to deal with rising terrorism, Pakistan’s proxy war in Kashmir but also the thriving insurgency in the North-east and the terror unleashed by the Naxalites. Already they have set base in over 13 States. Fortunately, Singh does not shy away. At the swearing-in-ceremony he told me in an informal chat: “I have been turning things around and I will continue to do so.”

True, corruption may no longer be an issue in the urban areas. But the rural landscape is dotted with malfeasance and ineptitude. Manmohan would need whatever it takes to strengthen various checks and balances, strengthen Parliamentary committees for effective control over the Government, pass the long delayed Lokpal bill, get MPs to lay declarations of their assets on the floor of the House et al.

Finally, aware that mastery in the current game of compromise and accommodation alone can make the Government function effectively in the coalition milieu Manmohan Singh has shown little hesitation in shedding all pretence. Putting a premium on efficiency and performance he has virtually put his ministerial brood on notice: perform or perish. “Business as usual” will not do.

All agree that the Prime Minister has good intentions and has set good goals. But he needs to tread honestly and cautiously. Complacency is a strict no-no. Towards that end, he now offers the moon and stars to one and all. But he needs to remember, promises of bringing heaven on earth is an old habit with public men. But all these dissipate fast into political quicksand. Leaving in its wake only a grand illusion of stability. Raising a big query: Can the PM meet the challenges that confront India? Will he come out smelling of roses? --- And, if so, for how long? ---INFA