India's Mantra Should be Equitable Growth

India has to eliminate poverty, be inclusive, and sustainable in the next 25 years. Given its history, it can certainly achieve this feat

- BY AMIT CHANDRA

Many doubted whether our country would even survive a decade when we gained independence. At various points in our journey since, we came close to the brink—both economically and geopolitically. Today, India@75 is a nation that stands tall, is a voice that is heard and counted on the global political stage, and importantly, is one amongst a handful that has a positive trajectory on most counts. Therefore, as I think of my vision for India@100, as a follower of Guru Nanak, I invoke the prayer: Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bhane sarbat da bhalla. What does this mean and what does it have to do with my dream for India@100?

I have little doubt that our country will continue to grow over the coming 25 years. The debate needs to be centred on how robustly and what can be done to accelerate the growth? If we grow at around 6 per cent, impressive in the long term on a larger base, we will be a $25-trillion-plus economy (in market exchange rate terms) by 2047. This is where we need Chardi Kala—boosting GDP growth by 0.5 per cent will mean adding a number equivalent to the current GDP per capita by 2047! There is simply no more powerful way for us to fight and eliminate the scourge of poverty, and bring prosperity to our middle class than by boosting growth, especially doing so equitably.