What is Information Technology to India?

Critics Corner, through Facebook blog, indirectly indicated BJP tried to stop Proliferation of IT in India

Critic Corner through its Facebook blog has praised former Prime Minister of India Hon'ble Rajiv Gandhi for his initiative to spread IT business in India and stated that BJP violently protested for the proliferation of IT sector in India. But one has to consider the situation at which IT sector was brought into India. Even the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi himself has said it missed the important phase in its economic development. It is true that India missed the manufacturing and industrialization phase which has cost India dearly at 2008 economic slowdown. Though IT sector may fetch $200 billion exports, but it stands on wooden scaffolding which may collapse any moment.

Growth of Indian IT sector:

Without strong manufacturing base in India, majority of these IT businesses were forced to fish international markets for opportunity. With abundant contracts from International businesses, IT sector flourished in India. None can deny the fact that it brought huge Forex exchange into RBI coffers. But such growth was sustainable? Not! The situation from 2008 global slowdown is a good example of what vision of Rajiv Gandhi would lead into in future years.

The reason for the slowdown was not within India but triggered by the world economy. Too much dependence on international market which drove the IT sector created insecurity among the Indian youth as slowdown triggered mass unemployment and austerity drive of companies. One prominent issue which was neglected in Indian economy was Industrialization phase. Without industrialization, Indian economy was made to depend on International market to drive IT sector.

The only source of fuel to the Indian IT business was imported by the way of contracts from USA and Europe. These nations are highly industrialized starting from the end of World War II. But Indian economy which was led by Nehru family to failed to catch up with the world. Wrong strategies led to global isolation of Indian economy. Rather than increasing the presence of Indian goods worldwide, India closed its doors for International market. With huge population growth, Indian economy started to stumble upon its own weight. Though IT sector added impetus to the Indian growth in the late 1990s, the inadequate industrialization didn’t make into the equation of Indian IT sector.

Economic Slowdown:

Had it there been an impetus from domestic market during the slowdown, IT sector wouldn’t have seen such slump as it did in the following years of 2008. The degradation of Indian business not only stopped with IT companies but mostly it affected Indian Society. Indian IT employees felt unsecured as they realized that any moment they could be sent out of job. The pomp with which they enjoyed prior to slowdown was no more the norm of the society. The crisis not only hit the business but also the personal life of many thousands professionals who were employed by the IT companies. The hire and fire policy was used like a whip to make employees work like bulls moving the cart.

The politicians who sit on the top of social hierarchy failed to tap the real potential of Indian market. Had they created a conductive business atmosphere for Indian diaspora, many individuals would have taken entrepreneurship which is lacking at the moment.

Make in India:

To remedy the mistake, the BJP government which took charge of governance has initiated “Make in India” campaign to promote industrialization. The wrong which was done by predecessors is being remedied various government schemes. Not only create industrialization of the nation but also provide opportunity to its own IT sector to tap the Indian market. Without products and goods, there can be no service. The goods and service coexist. Too much dependence on either one of them will be detrimental to the economy.

Present Challenges:

But still few politicians who predeceased the present government fail to act responsibly. When it comes to Indian economy, blame game is not good. Pointing finger for other mistake than to remedy the mistake will waste our precious time on useless debates. For a government which don’t blame others, get vast criticism from others. It is wise not to test the silence of the government as the present government is not talking about any mistakes committed in India since independence.  They all want to make good use of time and resource at their disposal unlike other people who rolled over money and only thought about family wealth than the national wealth.