Mantra of Self-Reliance

By Deepak Kumar Rath

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Recently there has been a big jump in India’s exports. In fact, during April 2021-March 2022 financial year, India had set a target of exporting its goods to the tune of US$ 400 billion, which it achieved nine days ago from March 31, 2022. This is a major achievement for India in the field of exports, as exports grew by 37 per cent to US$ 400 billion during this financial year, from US$ 292 billion during 2020-21. This achievement will definitely prove to be an important milestone in the journey of self-reliant India and it is a matter of pride that this achievement has been achieved during the Covid-19 epidemic and the catastrophe of Russia-Ukraine war. And what is more, the mineral production has recorded 13.2 per cent cumulative growth during April to February in the last financial year. The Coal Ministry said, the index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of February this year was 4.5 per cent higher as compared to February last year. In this perspective, it is heartening to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India is ready to supply food grains to the world if WTO agrees. Furthermore, Egypt has approved India as a wheat supplier. Against this backdrop, it can be aptly said that with the thrust to Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, India is carving a niche for itself in the global community. The manufacture of indigenous armaments and defence products, fulfilling the needs of manufacturing sector, automobile sector, mobile sector, infrastructure sector, drugs and vaccines sector and other sectors will prevent imports from abroad, which will not only give a boost to the economy, but India will also emerge as a major force in the world. Hence, it cannot be gainsaid that the country is at a turning point of history, and this is time for Indian business to transform and take a positive approach towards investment for building Atmanirbhar Bharat. In fact, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan is the vision of a new India envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The aim is to make the country and its citizens independent and self-reliant in all senses.

In India, since Independence, the major requirements of different sectors such as manufacturing sector, automobile sector, mobile sector, infrastructure sector, defence sector, drugs and vaccines sector and other sectors have been provided by foreign companies, owing to the dual policies of the government, lack of modernisation, selfishness of the leaders and lack of private sector participation. Hence, it engenders massive out-flow of precious foreign reserves. It cannot be gainsaid that the indigenised production in manufacturing sector, automobile sector, mobile sector, infrastructure sector, defence sector, drugs and vaccines sector and other sectors is a major factor that provides strategic autonomy to a nation, thereby adding exponentially to national stability. Self-reliance in the manufacturing sector, automobile sector, mobile sector, infrastructure sector, defence sector, drugs and vaccines sector and other sectors provides security flexibility to a nation, by reducing reliance on external sources and frees a nation from peripheral pulls and pressures, be they political or otherwise. But the great irony and compulsion of India has been that it has been counted in those countries, which, in the past, had been importing a large number of products. But with the push to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, thanks to the Modi government, India will be powerful and self-reliant. To emerge as a major power of the world, India has to ensure that it will be able to meet its needs on its own and will not allow any political insistence and corruption to become its hindrance. The message of boost to indigenously-developed products is evident that a lot can be done in “one night” in governance. Otherwise, the mentality and weak policy of the former leaders increased the dependence of the manufacturing sector, automobile sector, mobile sector, infrastructure sector, defence sector, drugs and vaccines sector and other sectors on other countries and kept us under control. Therefore, it is thanks to the present government that it is envisioning the country’s requirements in all these sectors and treading the path to fulfil them.