China, a country ruled by communists which don’t respect human rights and has isolated itself from the whole world, is considered to be responsible for spreading the deadliest virus called COVID 19. It is the most dangerous virus since 1920, taking toll of more than 0.5 million people till date. It is a non-friendly country which believes in hiding information and wants to rule the world through unethical practices. No person living in China can freely express his views or opinion. The doctor who spoke about Covid 19 was found dead, immediately after his video went viral. So, you can very well imagine, what type of country China is. Besides this, China has expansionist policies. It is trying to grab the land of all the countries, sharing borders with it. That is why, a few months ago it tried to intrude in Doklam and now in Galwan in Ladakh valley. All thanks to God. This time we have a powerful person like Mr. Narendra Modi, to deal with this demon country.

Due to Galwan misadventure of China, in which our 20 army men martyred, the public decided to boycott Chinese goods. Keeping in view the Public sentiments, the Government has also initiated the process to find the goods which can be banned or on which anti-dumping duties can be imposed.

With the Central Government banning 59 Chinese Apps, the process of boycotting Chinese goods has started. I am of the opinion that we shall not import anything from China, except the things which are direly needed and without which we cannot survive. Moreover, in case we have any other option available, as compared to the Chinese goods, though costly, should be preferred by all of us. For goods of general use, without which we can afford to live, should not be imported at all.

We know it is very difficult to stop each and everything but at the same time we need to differentiate between want and necessity. Only the things which are necessity should be imported and that too if no other alternative is available to us. We should buy or use the alternative, even if it is costly and should treat the extra cost as our contribution towards nation’s security. We cannot go to borders to fight for country and thus spending a few rupees extra to buy Indian goods in preference to Chinese goods will be our contribution.

Here the businessmen and importers also have a very crucial role to play. They are the person who brought these Chinese goods in India and made a market for them. Initially, they were priced at very low rates and when the public started buying them, they raised the rates. Presently, we are buying everything almost at the same prices at which Indian goods were available with the only difference that during this time the Indian manufacturer has been wiped out of the market in this dummy price war. China played a havoc with us. They captured our whole market leaving millions of people unemployed. Our rural products and markets have been wiped out, completely. Due to rise in import of cheap goods from China, many industries in India were forced to shut down, many kutir udyog, gram udyog, micro and small industries were also shut down resulting in massive unemployment.

Actually, this has not happened in a year or two. It is a result of our wrong policies initiated long ago, in the name of liberalisation of economy without proper planning. We have followed the economic policies of so-called well-educated economist, who had knowledge of world economy but nil understanding and knowledge about Indian economy. They failed to plan a thorough policy keeping in view the Indian perspective, wherein the rural and gram and kutir udyog needed to be saved.

Indian economy, which at some point of time before the Mughal invaders came in, had a massive share in world trade of more than 30{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} which started reducing during the invader’s and Britisher’s rule. Even after getting independence, our leaders at that time were so impressed with European culture that they never thought of promoting Indian culture or goods, rather concentrated on running India in western style. This policy of ignoring Indian goods and preferring the European goods proved very costly to us because we started importing more goods than our exports. This trade deficit in long run forced us to open our economy for outsiders, who came in and ruined our rural, gram and kutir udyog. Had proper attention been paid, at that time, to our gram and kutir udyog which included hand crafts, plantation of herbs and ayurvedic medicines, we would have become a super power by now. Our economy was agriculture based and we used to export foodgrains, pulses, spices, herbs and medicinal plants to the Middle East, European and other countries. Our government badly failed to promote our specialities and to modernise them. No research was done on ayurvedic and herbal medicines otherwise it would have provided the best substitute to allopathy system of medicine, which has maximum side effects. Instead of promoting our products abroad, the government started copying the west and promoted manufacturing of items which were used there.

So, the step by step fall of Indian economy started with Mughal invaders, Britishers, then wrong policies of our First PM Mr. Nehru (who was fond of western culture) who never liked Indian Culture but became PM even at the cost of dividing India into two parts. It was only Mrs. Indira Gandhi who had some understanding of Indian culture and that’s why the green revolution was brought in. Later on, the wrong policies in the name of liberalisation made us suffer a lot. For unknown reasons, import of those goods was also allowed which were produced in India. Anti-dumping duties were either removed or reduced to the extent that Indian goods proved costly as compared to imported and the result of which is before us.

At one point of time in 1989, the foreign exchange reserve had fallen to the lowest level and there was a necessity of bringing in the foreign exchange. That was the time when some wrong decisions were taken, for the reasons better known to them only. Liberalisation of economy was a necessity but allowing unregulated imports, by reducing import duties and that too on goods which were manufactured in India, proved fatal for Indian Industry. Instead of supporting the industry in modernisation and upgradation, the government allowed import by reducing the duty to minimum.

The government’s decision to open the economy without considering the future of Indian Industry and particularly the labour-intensive industries, just on the basis of flimsy assumptions, without proper and thorough planning to save and promote Indian products in world market, its long term impacts on the country’s financial position, went wrong to such extent that reversing their bad impact will take years to come.

Now, in present position, we are heavily dependent on Chinese raw material, machinery and finished goods that it is next to impossible to stop importing everything from China. Those who were and are praising the former economist being the most intelligent and brilliant person, should come forward and tell us the way out. Even the most surprising fact is that the China had grabbed a piece of land even during the tenure of that so-called intelligent economist being PM of our country and he could not understand, even in that situation the level of threat India could face, in future.

To make India a super power, fight the tough competition and to price our products genuinely, we need to take few steps to reduce the cost, such as:

  1. Improve the work culture to increase the productivity through dedication.
  2. Minimise the number of holidays, which at present is very high.
  3. Stop distributing freebies due to which either the government imposes more tax or it has lesser amount in hand to support the industry.
  4. Reduce the transportation costs by developing industrial clusters or corridors.
  5. Industrial associations must utilise the government funded schemes for developing common R & D facilities.
  6. Industrial houses must support the young talent in carrying out R & D.
  7. To open Skill development centres on large-scale, as per industry needs.
  8. Technological upgradation in every industry to increase output.
  9. More attention on planting herbs and medicinal plants.
  10. Maximise investment in Ayurvedic Research to minimise dependence on Allopathy.
  11. Develop the tourist spots, throughout India, through PPP mode.
  12. Providing international marketing platform for Handicraft items, items manufactured in our small villages.
  13. Last but not the least, we understand that a country has to enter into various treaties and agreements being a member of various international organisations and therefore, certain things can’t be restricted by the government but we, as a citizen, can always make a choice while buying goods. And here lies the biggest responsibility on our shoulders as a responsible and diligent citizen.

Above are the few points which may be helpful in making India a self-reliant country which would suo motu bring employment opportunities, removal of poverty, increase in literacy, etc., etc. and then we will not be far away from becoming a super power.

*****

From “ Hindu-Chini Bhai Bhai” to “Hindu –Chini Bye Bye” , the shift in slogan speaks volumes about the patchy relationship that India and China have shared since it’s (India) independence. Panchsheel Treaty of 1954 was the first step by India to establish a peaceful accord with China. Sadly, expiry of the agreement was marked by Sino-Indo war of 1962 which dented the relationship between the two. The war was followed by sabotage in 1975 by Chinese army which claimed lives of our 4 solders. This further weakened the relations with our Asian neighbor. And now, Doklam standoff in 2017 and the recent Galwan valley skirmish that witnessed martyring of 20 soldiers has stirred anguish in citizens of India.  These face offs and wars apart from raising tensions at border have strained our economic relations too.

 People holding placard reading “Boycott Chinese Goods and Apps” is the new scenario that the country is witnessing recently. This also comes amidst of announcement by our honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisioning to transform India into “Atamanirbhar Bharat”.  However the current situation demands a pragmatic answer rather than a knee-jerk and jingoistic retort if we really want to realize our dream of becoming Atamanirbhar.

 Before blatantly ostracizing the Chinese goods it is imperative to understand the present India-China trade structure. It is very important to look at our dependence on China and its goods so that a well thought plan can be put in place. Let’s have a look at the figures!!!

Trade figures suggest that India is the 4th largest importer of Chinese goods amongst other importers. Also, India clocked trade deficit of $56.8 billion in 2019 with its imports from China increasing by 2.1{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} and exports falling by 0.2{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503}, an official from China’s General Administration of Custom (GAC) said. Further a sectored breakup shows that out of respective imports; 20{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} of auto components, 70{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} of electronic components come from china. Similarly 40{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} of consumer durables, 70{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} of API and 40{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} of leather Goods are imported from china.  India’s trade statistics with china underscore that it’s import dependency for raw materials and critical components (Auto, Durables, Capital Goods) is skewed.    

As far as Chinese investments are concerned the figures are even more discouraging. Chinese investors have pumped in over $5 billion in Indian startup ecosystem so far. Some of the top investors includes names such as Ant Financial, Tencent , Shunwei Capital amongst others. Ant Financial alone has invested about $2.7 billion in India across seven companies including Paytm. On one hand Tencent has been backing unicorns such as Flipkart, Shunwei capital has been doing rounds of capital in food delivery giant Zomato amongst others. So it will not be wrong to assert that Indian startups are puffed up with Chinese money which itself is not good sign for our economy.

Acknowledging our dependence on China, if abrupt blanket ban on imports is announced Indian economy might have to face a trade war like situation. Further, it will result in disruption in supply chain since we have yet not developed in house manufacturing capability nor do we have an alternative cheap source to cater our present needs. As most of our industries depend on the imports for raw material, intermediate or finished products, from china they will suffer delay in their production.

Not only this, since Chinese goods are well-known for their cheap prices and due to lack of in house capacity to substitute them, a ban on them will append cost of production. This will heave the price of final product which will ultimately damp the demand for indigenously produced goods, since people are habitual of buying cheap Chinese goods. This might also make our exports uncompetitive and hence hitting our foreign exchange reserves. Consequently, our economy which is already starving of demand will face brunt of an impulsive decision rather than gaining from it.

So should we give up our mission of becoming ‘Atamanirbhar ’?? Certainly not. An assay to draft a sound and comprehensive policy will serve our purpose.

Firstly, instead of outrighlty banning Chinese goods, measures such as anti dumping duty should be enforced with more aggression. As highlighted by 145th report of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, anti dumping duty framework suffers lax in implementation. It also suggested that certain unscrupulous elements are able to circumvent the goods put under anti dumping duty framework by misclassification of goods. So solidifying our legal framework will be the first step towards realization of our dream.

Secondly, to cultivate innovation in any country and in any sector R&D is vital. Despite of the fact that India’s expenditure on R&D has tripled in the period 2004-05 to 2014-15, its size as a percentage of GDP remained at 0.7{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503}. This is very low as compared to the countries such as Israel that spends 4.3{551c903f756d5bf12b7d58e2eb1e8b74af35058efa7a05d3e7b41e9147979503} of its GDP in R&D. Hence to equip our industries with requisite modern technology and skill set we have to increase our expenditure in R&D.

Let us look at one of the sectors where owing to lack of investment, Indian Corporates have been losing out to Chinese brands.   

India ostensibly as a market for smart phone has great potential which is yet to be explored. This as a matter of fact can be substantiated by existence of Chinese brands such as Xiomi, Redmi, Oppo and Vivo that are reaping the benefits of ever growing Indian smartphone user base. With recent data providing that India had 502.2 million users of smartphone as of December 2019, the arena has thrown open, competition for Indian players.  

 The story is similar for other sectors too, such as Pharma (API), Solar Power, Textile, Consumer (Bicycle) etc. To become self reliant there is dire need of fortifying our domestic industries, especially those which are subject to cheap imports from china. On one hand these sectors demand huge investments but at the same time there is exponential increase in the risk appetite of companies venturing into them. Hence expecting the private sector to solely assume the responsibility will not be a practical proposition. So for making them (sectors) conducive for investment measures such as; Capital Subsidies, Tax benefits, PPP arrangements, Flagship schemes akin to “Make in India”, single window clearance system etc. needs to be undertaken.

Recent development that has taken place is indeed very encouraging. Imposing ban on the Chinese app “Tik-Tok”, which is the most downloaded app in India amongst 58 other applications, has demonstrated that the executive is determined to take every single step that is pertinent to our mission.    

The vision of becoming Atamanirbhar will only materialize if concrete steps in this direction are taken. It is to be understood that without developing a strong in house manufacturing capabilities first, this dream is nothing but a mirage. The mission will take years of incessant and persistent efforts by the regulator and our industries but yet it can be turned into reality. A baby step in this direction is the need of the hour as there is a long way to go. At last, sensing the emotional turmoil in the country and for the long term benefit of our economy it will be correct to say    “Hindu-Chini Bye Bye”.