Dr Manmohan Singh is no more. His passing away should serve as a reminder of his contribution to managing a complex nation’s social and economic spheres with calm integrity and objectivity.
My first interaction with him was around 2000 when India was opening up its markets for insurance and a bill was being introduced in the parliament. I was asked to brief him by the finance minister Yashwant Sinha to ensure a smooth passage for this major reform legislation. He listened to me politely and asked a note to be given. The bill was passed with bi-partisan support. And after a few years I worked with him very closely as Cabinet Secretary and then member of the Planning Commission for nearly a decade.
Singh was a reformer to the core. His push for economic reforms in the early nineties brought a sea change in our economy and put it on a higher growth path. But with his humble roots from a village in west Punjab (now part of Pakistan), he was extremely concerned for the poor and how policies could bring them a better quality of life. He had a difficult task when he became prime minister. He had to manage a coalition with more than half a dozen parties because the Congress party was far short of a majority in the parliament. He did this remarkably well while focusing on the economy.
US President Barack Obama during his visit to India in 2015 complimented the Indian Government for its success in lifting millions out of poverty. The UN, the World Bank and International Development Agencies had repeatedly noted India’s effort in reducing poverty. During the decade that Singh was the prime minister nearly 150 million people crossed the poverty line which is higher than in any previous decade. During the 10 year period when he presided over the government, the Indian economy recorded a GDP growth and increase in per capita incomes which were the highest ever achieved in any 10-year period post or pre reforms in independent India. GDP increased three times in current US $ terms from $618 billion to $1878 billion during this period. His focus on opening up the economy in infrastructure and attracting private investment had a huge impact on growth in power, road, urban development, renewable energy and city gas expansion. He worked for ending India’s nuclear apartheid and with his effective diplomacy was hugely successful.
Also read: The Manmohan Singh Era: A Decade of Transformational Change in India’s Economy and Society
With MGNREGA and other anti-poverty programmes brought significant change in rural India. The NSSO data indicated that Rural Consumption recorded one of the highest growths and went up three times faster during this period as compared to the previous 10 years. Poverty declined sharply from 37.8% in 2004-05 to 21.9% in 2011-12 and more than 150 million people were lifted out of poverty. The infant mortality rate dropped to 42, a decline of 28%, highest in any earlier 10 year period since 1971 from when data is available. Maternal mortality declined to 178 in 2010-12 from301 in 2001-03. Regional inequality index improved with northeastern states showing good growth.
The empowering of citizens through the RTI Act, Right to Education Act for the children and Food Security Act were all aimed at giving greater power to the common man. His government did face criticism on its telecom and policy mainly because of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, but the courts have found nothing wrong with the telecom policies. There has been extensive criticism of the report of CAG on which many of these cases are based. Also, no finger has been raised against the honesty of Manmohan Singh in all this.
He was highly respected among world leaders. During a conference in Copenhagen in 2009 when India, China, Brazil and others world leaders were discussing steps for reducing carbon emission, Singh was well recognised by Obama.
Inspite of his enormous wealth of knowledge, Manmohan Singh was exceedingly polite. I recall briefing him on various issues. He would request you to explain it well and his final statement was, “So, what is to be done?”. His greatness was always mixed with enormous humility and transparent honesty. I had the pleasant experience of being seen off by him at PM’s residence on some occasions.
He was very considerate in his dealings with civil servants. If someone wanted an extension, because of family reasons, it was approved by him. He had an excellent understanding of the functioning of government and the difficulties faced by civil servants. A Civil Service Day was approved by him when I suggested the need for a strong civil service identity.
Singh’s legacy is a quantum jump in the country’s economy and its evolution to a higher level with tripling of our GDP, doubling of per capita incomes, sharp decline in poverty, and high level of growth in northeastern and low-income states of the north. He will always be remembered as a prime minister who ended India’s nuclear apartheid, for being a great academician, for being recognised globally and for being honest and extremely humble.
B K Chaturvedi is a former cabinet secretary and member, planning commission.
