CAN INDIA EVER BECOME SELF RELIANT , SELF SUFFICIENT AND ATMANIRBHAR.

  SELF RELIENT INDIA IN THIS CRITICAL CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC : The Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech the word "ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT" The vision is based on a wide and deep consultation with several sections of the society. Discussions were held at various level with various ministeries up to PMO . Essentially this is to aur growth and build a self- relient India. The whole Initiative is therefore called ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT.

SELF - SUFFICIENCY IN THE CONTEXT OF INDIA : India as a country has maintained a trade deficit as it imports more goods than it exports. This is due to the rise in domestic demand in a situation , where production at home has largely been weak in catering to this demand. As a result , even in sectors in which India has production capabilities , it depends on other countries for raw material. FOR EXAMPLE - THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR , where the bulk of the active pharmaceutical ingredients is imported from China . Self sufficiency in the present context refers to a specific task of improving efficiency, computing with the world and helping the world.

      PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN

1. Raw material suppliers

2. Raw material

3. Finished products

4. Packaging

5. Distribution

6. Distributors

7. Hospital / clinic 

8. Patients

       There is a lot of discussion about pharmaceutical drugs which are very simple here today. So I want to explain the supply chain to you by taking this example. But as you can see above that to make a medicine like hydroxychloriquine is going on now a days , to make this medicine , you have to go from raw material to all the above factors . So in this chain that for making a medicine , raw material is very necessary i.e API (ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS ).

      Now you should note that before Covid-19 , all the supply chain in India were very good , even if we talk about the finished products , packaging was everything we had but what was not the raw material that would be the production of the API. We were dependent on China to a great extent, but as soon as Covid-19 came , it caused shortage in our country India. Now for this , we have been encouraged that we should produce raw material also because if it is not there then things cannot happen on our own and because of this whole world which depends on china if it stopped production in China , then the supply chain that was there in the whole world stopped for once. So I am telling you that the supply chain that is there in our country should be from the beginning to the finished. The we can go and make ourselves SELF RELIANT . 

     Prime Minister stated that - "India stands at a point where it has to decide to become self reliant . While also supporting the world and other countries in the overcoming the challenges that they face" .

    WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVE SELF RELIANT GOAL : 

        There has been a long need for efficiency enhancing reforms that could make Indian producers competitive in the global market. These reforms are critical for creating domestic production capabilities. The disruption in supply chain due to the Covid-19 outbreak and the lockdown in China have had an adverse effect on several world economies. More countries are now looking at boosting domestic production capabilities to be able to absorb supply chain shocks. The move is also important in terms of strategic and geopolitical considerations as India looks to punch above it's weight in International affairs .

IS IT DIFFERENT FROM SWADESI AND IMPORT SUBSTITUTION : Self sufficiency is different from swadesi and import substitution policies followed earlier in terms of the choice of policy Instrument. Import substitution relied extensively on imposing high import tariffs and discouraging foreign trade , while the present move focuses on reforms and improving ease of doing business , Including for foreign firms in the country. ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT STANDS FOR - Be "VOCAL FOR THE LOCAL" means here that buy and promote products and brands . Global brands that exists today were also local once but when people began supporting them , they became global.

  FINANCE MINISTER SITHARAMAN STATED, "Self - reliant India doesn't mean we will become an Isolationist country " .

EXAMPLE - IIT Roorkee professors make low cost portable ventilators to help Covid-19 patients named as "PRANA VAYU" .

THE IMPORT TARIFFS WOULDN'T BE RAISED : There is a possibility of raising Import duty on a wide range of final goods and services . Some of these changes could focus on specifc countries to address India's trade deficit with them. Globally , such tariffs may rise due to geopolitical consideration as the world decides to move towards globalization 2.0 , which relies a lot on trade between rules based economies. Some tariffs may also be moderately hiked to correct for an Inverted duty structure and incentivize final production of goods and services in India.

SELF RELIANT FOR INDIAN ECONOMY : India's ability to recover from the effects of Covid-19 and it's economies fall out depends on the ability to protect industries . This is why it's important to promote Indian Industries while making them competitive through reforms and government interventions . The move to avoid global tenders upto 20 Crore is geared to incentivize companies - Indian and multinational to set up base in India . The aim is to encourage them to invest in the country . 

"Local brands to promoted be vocal about local and make them global ". - P.M MODI .

INDIA'S 5 PILLARS OF SELF RELIANT :

1. ECONOMY : That will bring not just incremental change but a quantum jump.

2. INFRASTRUCTURE : That will become modern India's symbol.

3. SYSTEM: that will be technology driven and not based on policy of past century.

4. DEMOGRAPHY : that is our strength , will serve as a source of energy for self reliant India.

5. DEMAND : And supply cycle of india will boost the economy an provide the power to harness it's full potential.

CONCLUSION : The Atmanirbhar bharat package expected to ease the difficulties of the migrants labourers and farmers who have suffered the most during the lockdown. It is also expected to support the middle class who pay their taxes on time and help grow the home industry including Cottage industry small industries and MSME that provide livelihood to crore of people.

Thanking you..