Study by top consultants KPMG finds Gujarat's investment climate dipping, talent pool below major states

Counterview Desk
A top report prepared by well-known consultants, KPMG, employed in the past by the Gujarat government for advising on how to improve the state’s investment climate, has revealed that the state’s investment potential has been dipping over the last five years. In its just-released report, titled “District wise skill gap study for the State of Gujarat (2012-17, 2017-22)”, KPMG, which prides itself for having a network of global professionals offering best of advise on improving investment climate to governments and private parties, has shown, through a chart, that in Gujarat a total of Rs 103,871 crore of investment was made in 2012, which was the lowest since 2008.
Thus, in 2008, investment worth Rs 121,852 crore was made, which jumped to a whopping Rs 147,971 crore in 2009. However, thereafter, the investment began slipping – in 2010 it was Rs 141,021 crore, in 2011 it further slipped to 140,474 crore, and, finally, in 2012 it was Rs 103,871 crore. The report has been prepared for the National Skill Development Corporation, on request from the Gujarat government, in order to "assess" the gap Gujarat would face over the next several years in the demand and supply of manpower in view of the “huge” investment the state’s different sectors have been able to attract in the recent past.
While pointing out that "huge" investment across the state would mean the need for talented manpower, the report regrets, Gujarat has only a “marginally better penetration of higher education compared to the national average.” Thus, while Gujarat’s enrolment in higher education is 14.8 per 1000 population, as against the all-India average of 14 per 1000 population. It comments, “Other progressive knowledge economies like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have higher penetration than Gujarat” – Andhra Pradesh 21.8 per cent, Tamil Nadu 20.8 per cent, Maharashtra 17.4 per cent, and Karnataka 16.4 per cent.

Higher education penetration per 1000 population

Not only has investment dipped, the report has found that number of large-scale units proposing to invest, too, has dipped. Thus, the number of big units proposing to invest in Gujarat was the highest in 2005, with 860, but these reached 383 in 2008. In 2009, as many as 382 big units proposed to invest in Gujarat. In 2010, these went up to 496. In 2011, these further increased to 541. However, in 2012, the numbers went down to the lowest ever since 2002 – 372. The top consultants give no explanation on say why this has happened, only saying, “Over the last five years, the state has witnessed over Rs 1 lakh crore of investments proposed per year.”
At the same time, KPMG also found a wide regional variation in investment, suggesting, efforts by the Gujarat government to uplift backward regions has not succeeded. It has said, “Analysis of regional distribution of investments in Gujarat indicates that the industrial development is concentrated around few districts of Kutch, Bharuch, Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Banaskantha, Rajkot, Jamnagar while other regions including the Dangs, Narmada, Dahod, Navsari remain backward in terms of industrial development.” In 2002-12, Kutch attracted an investment of Rs 5.24 lakh crore, while Ahmedabad received an investment of just Rs 15,801 crore.

Comments

Bill Gates as funder, author, editor, adviser? Data imperialism: manipulating the metrics

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* When Mahatma Gandhi on invitation from Buckingham Palace was invited to have tea with King George V, he was asked, “Mr Gandhi, do you think you are properly dressed to meet the King?” Gandhi retorted, “Do not worry about my clothes. The King has enough clothes on for both of us.”

Stagnating wages since 2014-15: Economists explain Modi legacy for informal workers

By Our Representative Real wages have barely risen in India since 2014-15, despite rapid GDP growth. The country’s social security system has also stagnated in this period. The lives of informal workers remain extremely precarious, especially in states like Jharkhand where casual employment is the main source of livelihood for millions. These are some of the findings presented by economists Jean Drèze and Reetika Khera at a press conference convened by the Loktantra Bachao 2024 campaign.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor* Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

'Assault on civic, academic freedom, right to dissent': TISS PhD student's suspension

By Our Representative The Mumbai-based civil rights group All India Secular Forum (AISF) has said that the suspension of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan (30) for two years for allegedly indulging in activities which were "not in the interest of the nation" is meant to send out the message that students and educational institutes will be targeted if they don’t align with the agenda and ideology of the ruling regime. TISS in a notice served to Ramadas has cited that his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a "mark of dishonour and protest" against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya. Another incident cited in the notice was Ramadas’ participation in the protest against unfair government policies in Delhi under the banner of the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF)-TISS. TISS alleges the institute's name was "misused", which wrongfully created an impression that

Joblessness, saffronisation, corporatisation of education: BJP 'squarely responsible'

Counterview Desk In an open appeal to youth and students across India, several student and youth organizations from across India have said that the ruling party is squarely accountable for the issues concerning the students and the youth, including expensive education and extensive joblessness.

Why it's only Modi ki guarantee, not BJP's, and how Varanasi has seen it up-close

"Development" along Ganga By Rosamma Thomas* I was in Varanasi in this April, days before polling began for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are huge billboards advertising the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only image on all these large hoardings is of the PM, against a saffron background. It is as if the very person of Modi is what his party wishes to showcase.

Following the 3000-year old Pharaoh legacy? Poll-eve Surya tilak on Ram Lalla statue

By Sukla Sen Located at a site called Abu Simbel in Nubia, Upper Egypt, the eponymous rock temples were created in 1244 BCE, under the orders of Pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC)... Ramesses II was fond of showcasing his achievements. It was this desire to brag about his victory that led to the planning and eventual construction of the temples (interestingly, historians say that the Battle of Qadesh actually ended in a draw based on the depicted story -- not quite the definitive victory Ramesses II was making it out to be).

Poll promises: Political parties 'playing down' need to retrieve and restore adivasi land

By Palla Trinadha Rao* The Scheduled Tribes population of 10.43 crore constitutes 8.6% of the population in the country inhabiting 26 States and 6 Union Territories. Parliament elections along with Assembly elections in some states have been notified this year.

India's "welcome" proposal to impose sin tax on aerated drinks is part of to fight growing sugar consumption

By Amit Srivastava* A proposal to tax sugar sweetened beverages like tobacco in India has been welcomed by public health advocates. The proposal to increase sin taxes on aerated drinks is part of the recommendations made by India’s Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the parliament of India.

Counterview

Search This Blog