A FUTURE LOOK PUNJAB'S DISMAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ITS FUTURE

Punjab ranked first in GDP per capita amongst Indian states in 1981 and fourth in 2001, but has experienced slower growth than the rest of India in recent years, having the second-slowest GDP per capita growth rate of all Indian states and UT's between 2000 and 2010, behind only Manipur. Punjab's GDP as a percentage is ranked 19th amongst Indian states in FY20-21. It is almost moving towards joining the 'BIMAROU' states category. Between 1992 and 2014, Punjab's life expectancy also grew slower than most Indian states; while rising from 69.4 to 71.4 years, Punjab's rank amongst Indian states in life expectancy at birth fell from first to sixth. Agriculture has almost reached its plateau in the state. Punjab, a border state and being land locked on a corner of the country, very few large industries are likely to come up in the state. The only salvation is if the Pakistan-India borders open-up for free flow of surface trade. It will attract several industries to meet the demand of Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asian countries especially if we join up with the China-Pakistan road corridor (CPEC). Amritsar will then become a 'land port'. Imagine just the sheer demand of warehousing around Amritsar which will bring back the city's glorious past of being a major trade hub. Alas, there is no hope of friendly relations with our western and northern neighbours. At present, emigration to developed economies seems to be the only salvation for the youth of Punjab.

STUDENTS

As of January 2021, more than 1.13 million Indian students are studying in 85 countries outside India. This is about 10 students per 1 lakh of population. More than 50% of Indian students study in North America. Between 2016 and February 2021, about 9.84 lakh people moved to other countries from Punjab and Chandigarh (including 3.79 lakh students and over 6 lakh workers), according to a Lok Sabha reply from V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs. Feb 19, 2022. Chandigarh saw 10,150 students per one lakh population going abroad between January 2016 to February 2021 while 859 students per one lakh people going abroad from Punjab.

SIKH ISSUES

The issue of homeland for Sikhs keeps cropping up, more so in foreign locales especially in countries with large Sikh population. Of course, those Sikhs who sought asylum in foreign countries based on traumatic events of 1984 cannot easily get weaned away from this demand. Nearer home, SGPC has been too closely linked with Akali Dal and its priorities to look after Sikh institutions and a refocus is necessary. There have been cases within India itself where Sikhs are not welcome as settlers. Punjab's dismal economy is of major concern. All the above impinge on Sikhs settled abroad. Sikhs have taken initiatives to venture out to improve their economic lot and to start fresh in new locales to get over the trauma of 1980s - Operation Blue Star and subsequent riots against the Sikh community. Sikhs felt disfranchised. Punjabi is not a preferred language with well-to-do Sikh families. Turbans are disappearing especially in younger generations. Sikh population is declining in India. At times, one wonders if 'Sikhi' is slowly disappearing in Punjab, and it will remain only abroad in some locales.