By Subodh MathurEveryone now knows that India’s GDP growth rate has slowed down. Even the chief ministers know it. But, they do nothing about it. They seems to think that fiscal rise is the Union government’s problem , not theirs. Not so- they are also responsible for economic growth.Chief pastors have full power over the Constitution’s State List domains, and joint authority over the Concurrent List expanses. Legalities aside, chief ministers know the ground worlds considerably better than the Union government. So, the Indian economy will grow faster if all chief ministers create state-specific growthoriented policies and administrative procedures. Sadly, most chief ministers don’t seem to care to do this.How do we burst this impasse? It’s impossible to try to motivate all chief ministers at once. It seems better concentrate on adopted chief ministers who can quickly help a large number of Indians.I looked at India’s most populous states to select these chief ministers. Raise here would surely boost India.UP and Bihar are two populous countries. Their low-grade per capita incomes are a major drag on India. However, this default also indicates that there is a significant potential for quick betters- if there is political will.Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh are five more populous regimes. They have a good record of economic expansion, which suggests that they can do even better.Call these seven as the Weighty 7( W7) territory. Together, they account for about 55% of India’s GDP and India’s population. The W7 chief ministers can quickly lift Indian’s economy by reducing the barriers that hugely confine economic proliferation in their states.First, improve supremacy discoms, particularly in UP and Bihar. Their inadequately rated capability discoms are holding back financial swelling. Improving discoms asks political will. The chief ministers have to allow competent directors, readily available in India, to run the discoms professionally. And working in collaboration with the Union government, which is looking to improve discoms with various programmes.Even the discoms in the other five W7 territories have room for improvement. For example, in top-rated Gujarat, discoms’ total power loss is around 15%, much above the single toe loss in China.Second, support and facilitate micro, small-minded, and medium-size enterprises( MSMEs ). They can increase incomes and jobs swiftly. The Union government is focussed on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index. However, this index, based on large firms in major metropolis, is not relevant for MSMEs. What we need is a change in the attitude of state government officials from indifference, provocation, and corruption to helping MSMEs. And show them how to take advantage of authority intrigues, such as the Union government’s MUDRA.Further, the chief ministers should cause neighbourhood management and technical educational institutions and their elderly students to get involved in assisting MSMEs.Third, the W7 chief ministers should do their best to reduce traffic congestion promptly. Congestion is no longer a child nuisance. It consumes era and exertion that could be used productively. For example, Bengaluru traffic is a considerable constraint on productivity. Of course, traffic congestion is a worldwide phenomenon, but every municipality is trying to do something about it. Any reduction in congestion would also reduce air pollution, which would also increase productivity.Fourth, begin to take charge of your rural areas, instead of continuing to let the Union government take the lead in agriculture and other urban intrigues. The W7 states should create their own programmes, tailor-make to local conditions with the involvement of district and even panchayat police and versed beings. A priori, these programmes would have a higher chance of doing well than Union government schemes.Groundwater depletion is a ticking ticking bomb in rural areas. Groundwater is a state subject, but the states have again made the Union government take a leading role. It’s time for the chief ministers to take charge but collaborate with the Union government.Young tech savvy Indians are now creating agritech and fintech apps is targeted at villagers. These apps have the potential to introduce modern production highways and financial instruments that will increase rural yield and incomes, without exerting authority stores. The chief ministers should pro-actively promote them.Overall, don’t make the agricultural economy drop so much better that farmers need credit waivers. Instead, look for ways to invest money productively upfront so that there is no need for waivers.Beyond the quick amplifications, the chief ministers should select 5-7 medium-sized district headquarters in different parts of the state for targeted improvement. This would reduce the future population distress on the bigger cities, and even enhance productivity there. And, it would help people in all parts of the state.Will the W7 chief ministers do this on their own? Probably not, because voters have not pulped them to deliver overall financial growing for all- not just for special voting blocs. Nor has any prime minister said, “I cannot do it all. I miss chief ministers to play their capacity in promoting India’s fiscal growth.”How can we begin to hold chief ministers as accountable for India’s progress as the “ministers “? To start, usage social media and grassroots organisations to spread this message. In latitude, interested thinktanks and partisans should prepare and publicise workable strategies that the W7 chief ministers were able to implement. Then we can ask them why they are sleeping on the job.The writer is Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

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