Fixing the economy: What Raghuram Rajan wants Modi govt to do
Fixing the economy: What Raghuram Rajan wants Modi govt to do
BusinessToday.In
- Dec 9, 2019,
- Updated Dec 10, 2019 11:09 AM IST

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Ex-governor of Reserve Bank Raghuram Rajan has chalked out a roadmap to revive Indian economy in an exclusive essay on India Today Magazine.
Rajan has put forward different steps the government can take to recover the economy.

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1- Land acquisition
Accelerate the mapping of land and the process of establishing ownership titles, especially in the poorest states. Set up transparent processes to determine and alter land zoning, and to register changes in ownership. Make forcible land acquisition extremely rare. Ease acquisition procedures in rare cases while protecting the interests of sellers.

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2- Labour
Allow more flexibility in labour contracts. Amend the law to allow for an intermediate contract where workers gain rights steadily overtime of employment but don't have to be made permanent.

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3- Decentralise
Empower ministers. Engage states. Start by amending the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission. Don't curtail states' share of tax revenue.

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4- Investments
Stabilise tax and regulatory regimes and make them predictable. Discuss proposed changes publicly and give the industry time to adapt. Consider an independent economic watchdog agency to give investors confidence that the government won't suddenly set them back. Avoid leaning on an untrained judiciary for remedies.

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5- Disinvestment
Disinvestment isn't primarily about raising resources. Avoid selling to already dominant family enterprises to avoid concentration of power.

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6- Real Estate/Construction/Infrastructure
Fast-track bankruptcy for developers in default. Make super senior loans to insolvent developers to complete projects.

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7- NBFCs
The RBI could do a quick asset quality review of the largest NBFCs. Give a clean chit to the well-capitalised ones. Give government funds for the undercapitalised ones only at a stiff price.

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8- Power
Ensure power is adequately priced and metered. Encourage competition among power distributors.

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9- Telecom
Preserve sufficient competitors in the telecom sector in the short run. In the longer run, re-examine regulatory processes to ensure a level playing field.

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10- Agriculture
Ensure easier access to inputs like seeds, technology, power finance, and insurance. Allow land leasing and cooperative sharing of resources like tractors. Effect greater connectivity -- both virtual and through logistical networks -- of farmers to warehouse, rural industry and final consumers. Eliminate distortionary government intervention in pricing and procurement. Compensate farmers for withdrawn subsidies through direct cash transfer based on acreage. Enable some farmers to move out of agriculture, allowing economies of scale for those who remain.
