The Gujarat Model Sheds Light on Successful Governance

The Gujarat Model: Examining the Reality Behind the Hype

Recent developments have brought the Gujarat Model into the spotlight, raising questions about its true quality. A recent indictment filed by US federal prosecutors has alleged that an Indian official orchestrated a plot to assassinate a US citizen. The go-between person in this conspiracy was Nikhil Gupta, a man involved in narcotics and weapons trafficking. The Indian official assured Gupta that his criminal case had been taken care of, and that he would not be bothered by the Gujarat police.

Setting aside the export quality version, let’s examine six key parameters to debunk the myth marketing surrounding the Gujarat Model: poverty, education, health, State Public Sector Undertakings (SPSUs), public infrastructure, and labor.

Poverty:
Around one-third of the state’s population, consisting of 31 lakh families, lives below the poverty line (BPL). Among them, 16 lakh families are classified as extremely poor. Between 2020 and 2022, over 3,100 families fell below the poverty line, while only 17 families managed to escape it.

Education:
In Gujarat, only 7% of children aged 5 years attended pre-primary school during the 2019 school year, compared to the national average of 14%. The state has failed to achieve the Right to Education target for five consecutive years (2012-2017). Additionally, while 41% of women nationwide have 10 or more years of schooling, this is true for just 34% of women in Gujarat.

Health and Nutrition:
Gujarat ranks second highest among major states in terms of the number of underweight children, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). The state also has a high prevalence of anemia, with 80% of children aged 6-59 months and 65% of women aged 15-49 being affected. Furthermore, 40% of children below the age of five in Gujarat are stunted, 25% are wasted, and 40% are underweight. Only 6% of infants receive proper nourishment in the state.

State Public Sector Undertakings (SPSUs):
As of March 2022, 22 SPSUs in Gujarat have accumulated losses amounting to Rs 29,000 crore. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reveals that 57 out of 77 SPSUs reported a net loss during the four fiscal years ending in 2018-19, resulting in a nil Return on Equity. There have also been allegations of the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) breaching environmental guidelines.

Public Infrastructure:
Several incidents have raised concerns about the quality of public infrastructure in Gujarat. In 2022, a suspension bridge in Morbi collapsed, resulting in the loss of 135 lives. Cracks were observed on the Atal Bridge in Vadodara shortly after its inauguration, and bridges in Tapi district also experienced collapses and cracks.

Labor:
In 2021, the average daily wage for non-agricultural labor in rural areas of Gujarat was Rs 239, compared to the national average of Rs 315. The state ranked 17th among 20 states and Union Territories in terms of average daily wages for non-agricultural labor in rural areas.

In conclusion, the Gujarat Model, touted as a shining example, reveals significant shortcomings when examined closely. The state faces challenges in poverty alleviation, education, health, state-run enterprises, public infrastructure, and labor conditions. It is clear that the Gujarat Model’s outward sparkle does not reflect its internal reality.

(Note: This article presents the personal opinions of the author, Derek O’Brien, MP, and does not necessarily reflect the views of others.)