By Avner Pariat
I have seen a number of initiatives enacted by this government which on the surface seem quite commendable. Notable among these are the attempts to encourage and support commercial enterprises from the state particularly among the youth. Many young people attended the recently concluded summit organised by the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) on January 21, 2020. And based on the turnout I think it is safe to say that the spirit of the youth is entirely on the side of self-employment and the liberties associated with it.
That being said, more than half of those businesses (start-ups) that were felicitated at the summit are in real danger of dying off within the next few years. History shows this to be true. The reason being that government support and assistance at various stages for numerous years is vital for them to scale up and expand their operations. It is not hard to see many similar attempts that have died and dried up along the wayside of this state’s economic history. There have been too many ventures like these before which sadly fell victim to indifferent autocratic bureaucracy. True, their project reports were not as glossy nor as full of colourful charts as today’s start-ups but they were there nonetheless. They came and went.
Again, though I say this in a rather pessimistic voice, there has been an earnest attempt by the government and MIE to bridge this gap in the model and business chain. They have sought to address some of the old persistent problems by helping the start-ups through the provision of rent-free space (the new business hub at JLN stadium, Polo), by promising to give government support through schemes, and also through the provision of training and funding opportunities. These are good signs. And if the admin is secure and not overburdened with work I think some real changes might be seen sooner rather than later.
After all is said and done though, there is indeed an elephant in the room with regards to all this entrepreneurship business. The Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, and his officers might point out the various answers to my tentative questions and on paper at least everything looks good. There are no loose ends. They have conceptualized a system which seems fluid and workable. However, my own apprehensions are more related to long-term considerations not necessarily to a 5 year cycle.
The truth is if these sorts of undertakings are meant to lower the high levels of unemployment and poverty within the state of Meghalaya then I am afraid, at the current level, we will never achieve those targets. There are huge goals that need to be achieved and no number of sexy summits or cool conventions can make the hard task of reforming this economy any easier. The main flaw as I see it has to do with the focus of these initiatives. There is too much thrust on the presumed abilities of individual entrepreneurs. In a society where most people have had little or no exposure to commercial culture and business activity this is a road fraught with peril. The harsh reality of the national marketplace is not something to be shrugged at.
Our people (by which I mean tribal people) are not in any sort of place right now to be able to withstand the tremendous pressures of the marketplace. It is NOT ENOUGH to “guarantee market access” as one of the summit documents declares. Market access has never been the issue, market security or the security of their businesses in the face of old entrenched players is the main task here. I have said this before: if the government will not intervene on behalf of these businesses even after incubation then they are doomed. They can produce a thousand and one things but if they are insecure in the market then what is the point.
This thrust on individual entrepreneurship is also dangerous in that it might lead to a situation where a few come to dominate the landscape. It has already been seen how the most celebrated and financially favoured (by the state government) of our state’s entrepreneurs are from a specific class and social category. They have a lifetime of important connections hoarded away from school, church etc. So out goes the tenet of free and fair competition through the window!
In an increasingly unequal world, should we not pre-empt the tide and bolster our economy in new, dare I say, inclusive ways? What is the use of spending state resources just to ensure a few people get money and employment? I think, Mr CM, if you want to be re-elected you’re going to have to pick up the pace and scale of this entrepreneurship thing. In this regard, prioritizing co-operatives would be the smart and logical way to go. You can kill many birds with one stone. They lay emphasis on inclusiveness, democratic decision-making, profit-sharing, joint ownership and can employ larger numbers of people in a sustainable and more economically just way. They might not make HUGE profits nor generate HUGE revenues but why should they? What is this obsession with Big Business models and corporate start-up culture? I think we need to start distancing ourselves from these unsustainable and exploitative practices and their zealots. Why the hell are we courting the Ambanis so hard?!
The indigenous cultures of Meghalaya (allow me to be Romantic and essentialist) were founded on spirits of egalitarianism and participation. Why don’t we play to these strengths? They are strengths by the way, not weaknesses. Globally, cooperatives are rallying in the face of unmitigated and unregulated corporate power and greed. Increasingly they are now seen as the standard bearers of Green, sustainable, futuristic economies.
To be fair, there are a considerable number of cooperatives that already exist and have come forward to be a part of this entrepreneurship program. Many of them have been around even prior to this MDA government. However, they SHOULD be the main target of these programs not just part of the fabric. Instead of these long and tedious summits, publicize the work being done by these amazing co-operatives and open up to suggestions on improvements and quality assurance via social media, opinion polling, etc. This is just one small thing that can be done. Make everyone a part of the process. Don’t hide behind jargon.
God, my socialist soul is weary of corporate jargon! Merely hearing terms like “aspiration this” and “inspiration that” makes me wrench about violently in my seat, as I exhale one exasperated sigh after another. But anyway, I digress. I hope that policy changes radically in this direction in favour of the Future and not the Feudal. The ball is in the court of the government and its associates.