The Hindu : Economic issues will dominate polls, feels Industry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

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Other States - Rajasthan

Economic issues will dominate polls, feels Industry

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, MARCH 25. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed happiness over economic matters emerging as major poll issues in the country finally. There is more meaning in democracy when the issues in elections are about progress, roads, schools and drinking water than emotional or imaginary matters, it maintains.

"Political leaders are not generally concerned about economic matters. However, of late the people are showing that they are interested in economics. The results of the recent Assembly elections in three States are an indication,'' the PHDCCI president, Ravi Wig, said and added: "This happened for the first time in the country.''

Mr.Wig, who was here to attend a round-table discussion on "Rapid economic development in Rajasthan'', told newspersons quoting the participants who attended the convention that both bureaucracy and politicians in this country had never taken business very seriously. Moreover, unfortunately, in general business persons were considered "thieves,'' it was pointed out.

"The new leadership will be more sensitive to economic issues,'' Mr.Wig said. He felt that as it was in the case of the recent Assembly elections, economic issues would dominate the campaign in the Lok Sabha polls too. "There will be public debate on core issues like power, roads, infrastructure, basic amenities and health. Voters have started asking for results,'' he said.

"The people have a choice now. They can change their rulers. This is unlike in the past when they had only one party and no other clear alternative,'' he added.

Discussing Rajasthan, the round table, also attended by the former chairman of SEBI, D.R.Mehta and the former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, M.L.Mehta, besides captains of trade and industry, suggested the State concentrating on its inherent strengths. The sectors like tourism, art, craft, stone and jewellery besides agriculture could be the areas of focus." The young population in the country is an asset though presently it is proving a liability due to lack of employment and opportunities,'' Mr.Wig noted. Value addition could be carried out in agriculture, which was the occupation of 68 per cent of the people in Rajasthan. Through the agri-business earnings of farmers could be improved by 600 per cent, he argued. The round table, which sought more concerted attempts to woo entrepreneurs of Rajasthani origin abroad to invest in the State, also expressed concern over the growing disparities between the States in the South and the Northern States.

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