Atmanirbhar Bharat : Action Plan – UPSC GS3

Vocal for local

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a call to fellow Indians to be “Vocal for Local” in May.
• This includes not only to buy and use local products but to also take pride in promoting them.

Challenges

1) Imports from China

• Serious challenge to Atmanirbhar mission is country’s $65 billion worth of imports from China alone.
• Most of these imports are of essential items — raw materials, components and intermediates required in producing finished goods.
• For example, the pharmaceuticals sector imports nearly 70 per cent of its raw material and drug intermediates.
• It may not be feasible to replace all Chinese imports in the near future.
• It may also be debatable if the end goal is to replace the entire chain of imports from a country.
• Nevertheless, experts and industrialists do assert that the ANBA is an excellent initiative and gives India the opportunity to embark on the self-reliance drive.

2) Struggling MSMEs

• A major part of the Vocal for Local mission rests on the MSMEs, which has been seen as struggling for survival.
• But the reforms announced as part of the ANBA should put them on a stronger footing.
• One immediate fallout of these measures will be creation of large scale employment opportunities for both the skilled and unskilled workforce.
• A stronger manufacturing base will also lead to positive spinoffs related to the supply-purchase of local raw material and capacity building of allied manufacturing units.

Way forward

• First, an umbrella action plan should be drawn by the NITI Aayog listing all targets under the ANBA and the Vocal for Local Mission.
• A monitoring agency will review and suggest course correction to ensure that no delay is allowed to build.
• Second, each state/UT will develop an action plan in consonance with the umbrella plan.
• A separate organisation created by each state will be responsible for the implementation of the action plan
• Such organisation should also conduct regular studies to identify local and global market trends and invite competitive solutions to meet market demands.
• Third, each district (or a group of districts) will work out a more detailed action plan, and charter of responsibilities for ground level officers and departments.

Conclusion