DEMYSTIFYING THE GUJARAT MODEL - CLAIMS & REALITY

The "Gujarat Model" is a term that has garnered significant attention over the past two decades. It refers to the developmental blueprint that Gujarat, one of India's most industrialized states, has followed to achieve rapid economic growth, infrastructural advancements, and social transformation. Although widely celebrated, the model has also faced scrutiny, raising questions about its inclusivity and broader impact on society. This essay delves into the origins, key features, successes, and critiques of the Gujarat Model to provide a nuanced understanding.

The so-called Gujarat Model of development, which the BJP has promoted, is neither a complete myth nor an unqualified success—it has elements of both achievement and exaggeration. It depends on how one evaluates it and what aspects are considered.

What the Gujarat Model Claims

The Gujarat Model refers to the economic and governance policies implemented in Gujarat, especially during Narendra Modi's tenure as Chief Minister (2001–2014). The BJP has projected it as a success story based on:

The key parameters of this model include the following :

I. CLAIMS

1. Economic Growth & Industrialization

• Pro-business policies: Simplified regulations, quick approvals, and ease of doing business.

• Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial corridors: Development of dedicated zones for manufacturing and exports.

• Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Encouraging private investment in infrastructure and services.

• Vibrant Gujarat Summit: A global investment summit to attract national and international businesses and investments.

2. Infrastructure Development

• Roads & Highways: Extensive road networks and expressways.

• 24x7 Electricity (Jyotigram Yojana): A rural electrification scheme that separated power supply for agriculture and residential use.

• Water Supply Projects: Initiatives like the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the Narmada Canal Project to improve irrigation and drinking water availability.

3. Agricultural Growth

• Agricultural reforms: Focus on micro-irrigation, soil health cards, and contract farming.

• White Revolution: Boosting dairy farming, making Gujarat a major milk producer.

• Drip irrigation and water conservation: Promotion of efficient water usage techniques.

4. Urbanization & Smart Cities

• Planned urban development: Cities like Ahmedabad and Surat developed with smart infrastructure.

• GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City): India's first international financial hub.

5. Social Development & Governance

• Women empowerment: Initiatives like Mission Mangalam to promote women’s self-help groups.

• Skill development: Programs like iCREATE and Kaushalya Vardhan Kendras (KVKs) for youth employment.

• E-governance: Digitalization of government services for transparency and efficiency.

6. Tourism & Cultural Promotion

• Development of Statue of Unity, promotion of Rann Utsav, and heritage tourism.

• Boosting religious tourism with projects like the Somnath and Dwarka Corridor.

7. Environmental Sustainability

• Focus on renewable energy, especially solar and wind energy projects.

• Implementation of waste management and green initiatives.

• Electricity and infrastructure: Gujarat achieved near 24/7 electricity supply in rural areas, unlike many other states.

II. REALITY

The Gujarat Development Model, while successful in promoting industrialization and economic growth, has faced criticism in several areas, particularly education, healthcare, social inclusion, and rural development. Here’s a detailed analysis:

1. Education: Low Human Development Indicators

• Low Public Spending: Gujarat has traditionally spent less on education compared to other states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• Poor Learning Outcomes: Despite economic growth, Gujarat lags in literacy rates and school dropout rates, especially in rural areas.

• Teacher Shortages: Government schools face a shortage of qualified teachers, impacting the quality of education.

• Privatization of Education: Heavy reliance on private institutions has made quality education less accessible to lower-income groups.

• Example: According to ASER reports, basic reading and math skills among students in Gujarat have not improved significantly over the years.

2. Healthcare: Weak Public Health Infrastructure

• Low Per Capita Health Expenditure: The state’s spending on healthcare as a percentage of GDP is lower than the national average.

• High Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates: Despite progress, Gujarat still has higher Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) compared to better-performing states.

• Rural-Urban Divide: Healthcare facilities are concentrated in cities, leaving rural areas with inadequate access to doctors and hospitals.

• Privatization and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: High reliance on private hospitals increases healthcare costs for the poor.

• Example: The shortage of primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) in remote areas has been a persistent problem.

3. Social Inclusion: Unequal Growth

• Marginalized Communities Left Behind: The benefits of economic development have not reached Dalits, Adivasis, and other marginalized communities at the same rate as other groups.

• Gender Disparity: The state has a poor sex ratio (919 females per 1000 males in 2011) and high rates of malnutrition among women and children.

• Religious Polarization: Some critics argue that post-2002 communal tensions have created economic and social barriers for minority communities.

• Example: The Human Development Index (HDI) of Gujarat is lower than states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu despite higher industrial growth.

4. Rural Development: Uneven Economic Benefits

• Agricultural Distress: While Gujarat has seen success in irrigation and dairy farming, many small farmers struggle with debt, low crop prices, and erratic rainfall.

• Uneven Development: Urban centres like Ahmedabad and Surat have seen rapid growth, but tribal and interior rural areas still face poverty and lack of basic services.

• Lack of Non-Farm Employment: Rural youth often migrate to cities due to a lack of local employment opportunities beyond agriculture.

• Example: Many tribal districts, like Dahod and Narmada, continue to have high poverty rates despite the state’s overall economic growth.

In the next part, we compare it to other states.