True Freedom – Opinion News

Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew once said, “China does, India talks.” But enough data suggests that India not only talks a lot, but also does a lot. Now, as the country enters its 78th year of independence, there is indeed cause for celebration: It is set to become the fourth-largest economy and could be the third-largest by 2027. India has improved its scores in several global indices, is a major information technology service provider, has doubled the number of student places at many universities, and has made great strides in connectivity – both physical and digital. And more importantly, contrary to predictions of its imminent demise as far back as the 1950s, the country has emerged as a major player on the world stage whose voice is heard with respect.

The Indian Republic has, by and large, survived as a united, vibrant, multicultural democracy. That is a tremendous achievement in a world that is becoming increasingly divided and volatile – for proof of that, look at what is happening in our immediate neighbourhood. The success of Indian democracy owes much to its institutions, which have held and continue to hold this nation together – with the Constitution as a shining light that shows the way forward and sets the guardrails for a safe journey.

The problem, however, is that while India is doing relatively well, too many Indians are not. In nominal dollar terms, India's per capita income is lower than that of all 50 largest economies except Bangladesh, and is just ahead of Cambodia, which is not exactly flattering. According to the UNICEF Child Nutrition Report 2024, 40% of children in India are malnourished. The country is also facing a crisis, with two-thirds of unemployed young people in education. India's richest people now have a larger share of national income than they have in over a century. According to a study by the World Inequality Lab, the top 1% of Indians earn 22.6% of national income, compared to 15% for the bottom 50% of the population. Two decades ago, the top 1% owned 25.4% of wealth and the bottom 50% owned 6.9%. This just goes to show that India remains a deeply unequal society.

This cannot continue, as such growing inequality can tear the social fabric of the country apart. Issues such as progressive taxation, job creation (not the kind proposed in the last budget) and improved access to healthcare and education require a thorough soul-searching. It is abundantly clear that government handouts are not a substitute for jobs and religion cannot serve as a mass opiate for all time. These are the issues that legislators should be debating and discussing. Instead, an average day in Parliament still revolves around the me-me-me personality cult, chaos and demonisation of the other, which almost drowns out any substantive discussion on critical areas. India needs to develop policies that allow entrepreneurial energies to flourish while also focusing on comprehensive welfare with a rights-based approach, as it is obvious that neither a government nor a purely market emphasis on development and growth is ideal. Political leaders need to come together to set out a vision for the future that takes into account the aspirations of young people who need to hear what we can do for them. The Prime Minister's Independence Day speech this morning could be a good place to start.