Not going into the detailed definition of middle class so as to avoid any dilution of the importance of the subject, it is enough to state that middle class mainly comprises of people who are dependent on salary and their tax is deducted at source. .

The middle class grew in size to approx 350 million and in purchasing power post economic reforms in 90s launched by Narsimha Rao’s Govt in 90s.  Some claim that the middle-class makes up 28 per cent of the total population and 79 per cent of the total taxpayer base. As its purchasing power grew, India’s economy also grew in size. India’s influence in global arena has enhanced because of the immense contribution of the middle class . India’s middle class has played an important role in the unprecedented growth of India’s IT Sector. Most of the CEOs of top MNCs today, Engineers and Management experts, technocrats, artisans, sales persons, Accounting experts working in Service sector, Retail show rooms, Banking sector, Scientists of ISRO have come from India’s middle class.

It would not be wrong to state that India’s middle class is an engine of India’s growth. They are also associated with social progress—freedom of press, education and gender equality. The middle class, particularly post economic reforms is a causal factor behind India’s improved economic and social outcomes.

Besides the above, it is this class which pays maximum tax to the Government; direct or indirect. It is this class that toils hard and pays its hard earned money through GST and other taxes when it buys - Petrol/Diesel, Cars/motorcycles, consumer items, TV sets, computers, laptops, travels in planes/ trains, takes his family out for a dinner and so on.

However unfortunately it gets nothing in return from the Govt despite Govt making huge profits from him. Millions of Indians who form the backbone of the country’s middle class are being literally squeezed of their earnings without getting anything in return.

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The recent visit by US Secy of State Mr Blinken was actually not a visit but a kind of an inspection by USA on whether India is following the democratic norms or not. During the inspection besides meeting the foreign minister and other Govt officials he had a 45 minute review meeting with representatives and activists like Menaka Guruswamy a constitutional lawyer, Founder of Inter faith Foundation Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed and representatives of Ramakrishna mission, as well as representatives of Baha’I, Sikh and Christian communities.

In this review meeting Mr (Lord) Blinken discussed issues like religious freedom in India, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and anti-conversion laws passed by some Indian States, Other current issues, including the arrest of journalists and the recent revelations of a list of journalists and activists believed to be under surveillance using Israeli Pegasus software, and offcourse the farmers’ protest.

After the inspection Lord Blinken enlightened us, proclaiming that ;

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The urgency for reforms in civil services may be dictated as much by the imperatives of global developments as by the forces of new technology and communication but more importantly by what has been happening in the country, off late - misgovernance.

Many Media reports state that almost 4- 5 million people have perished in India during this pandemic and those who have lost their near and dear ones have had the traumatic experiences of those days. The administrative machinery had just melted. Secondly, the manner in which Political masters have started interfering with the administration it has made the system absolutely defunct, ineffective, lethargic and callous , the system  now  does  not work for citizens , it rather harasses them and it starts only if the politicians kick start it.

If SC has to call CBI as Caged Parrot, which only repeats what its Political masters tell him to speak , then there has to be something seriously wrong with the system of crime investigation in the country.

Lastly, Mr. Asthana, a 1984-batch IPS officer, was to retire on July 31 but just a few days before his retirement he is appointed as the Police commissioner of Delhi Police and given an extension that too against the SC rulings. And surprisingly who does all this – A Committee headed by PM himself. Astonishingly he was serving as Director General, Border Security Force. What has BSF, which is a Border security force has got to do with Policing. Was Mr Asthana trained in tactics, handling of weapons like Mortars and field guns.

When the pandemic started spreading in Mar2020, many Govt officials heading districts and tehsils had to be shunted out as they were found incapable to handle the situation. The same thing happened in Apr2021 when the citizens had to face grave shortages. The administrative machinery was just not geared up even after a year of pandemic.

So, If this chalta hai attitude has to go and India has to progress, the first thing that has to happen is ; modernize the bureaucracy and make it professional. Bureaucracy includes Police service and other All India services.

Although comprehensive reforms in the civil service, is ideal, but it It is also too complex to implement all at once. It would require a sustained commitment from political and administrative leaders and can not happen immediately. It is doubtful that any country would have ever undertaken comprehensive reforms.

So to begin with,

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We always set  higher goals to do better in life. There will not be any organization in India or outside which compares its performance on the basis of targets that existed 70 years ago.

Surprisingly the achievements of current Government are often compared with the Government that managed India 70 years ago. Many these days advertently or inadvertently highlight the achievements of the current Govt comparing it with Nehru ; How many IITs Nehru had set up and how many Modi Govt did and so on.

Its ridiculous and laughable. How can one think of comparing the performance of the two leaders?

Nehru in 1947 inherited a poor, deprived , impoversihed and largely illiterate India – almost 88 % were illiterate, which had hardly any industry ; two steel manufacturing companies, more than half of India was without electric power , barely 28 engineering and medical colleges, hardly any road network and public transport system, hardly any hospitals and on top of that millions of refugees and a society which had witnessed a genocide.

It is interesting to compare the two Indias under few Heads, that these leaders -Mr Nehru and Mr Modi inherited in 1947-50 and in 2014 respectively.

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