Problem solving

The way ahead is never straightforward

As experience in the past few decades along with recent events have shown, propelling the Indian economy forward requires wisdom, out-of-the-box thinking in large doses, and a good helping of measures that engender trust between people, communities and religions.

As Infosys founder, NR Narayana Murthy, pointed out some time ago, no country has made economic progress without dealing with strife and distrust. His words made headlines at the time, as his was the first voice from among the upper echelons of corporate India to say this.

While valuable efforts to improve India’s standing in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index have progressed, there is only so much that can be achieved by tweaking and streamlining rules and regulations. Much needed investment will be forthcoming only when investors are convinced about the future, and can stomach the risks involved. This is unlikely while social unrest looms large. What will it take to lead the country out of its current impasse?

Among the current dilemmas is reconciling the lofty ambition of creating a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy with the reality of multiple internet shutdowns ordered to contain social unrest. There were more than 100 such shutdowns in 2019 alone.