Facts about Padma Awards

The government of India had released data regarding all Padma Awards – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri – given since 1955. As per the data a total of 4,284 Padma Awards have been given between the 1955-2016 period.

Of every five Padma Awards at least one comes from Delhi which accounts for 793 cases (18.6%). Delhi is followed by Maharashtra with 748 awards and Tamil Nadu with 384 awards. In 63 years since 1955, Northern India has got 1558 Padma Awards which is about 36.6% of the total awards. This means one of every three Padma Award comes to Northern India. Southern region got only 898 awards which is about 20.96%. North East region, however, has got only 161 which is about 3.75%.

Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) during 10 years of its tenure (2004-2014) gave about 1,169 Padma Awards. This means at least 27.29% (over 1/4^th) of total Padma Awards given since 1955 were during UPA. Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance government in last two years has given 215 Awards.

About 54% (2,311) of Padma Awards given since 1955 were for Arts, Medicine, Literature and Education. Of the 2,311 awards, art topped the list with 924 awards followed by Literature and Education with 850 Awards and Medicine with 537 Awards. The highest number of Padma awards in one calendar year was given in 1972 when 148 Padma Awards were announced. Interestingly, no awards were given in six years 1978 to 1979 and 1993 to 1996.

Resetting Green Revolution

India’s agriculture became moribund decades ago, and shows no sign of uplift for the long haul needed. Indeed, the rain gods have played havoc with Indian farmers. But not just the gods, Indian states have done precious little to tackle the problem head-on. The government solution is to give financial sops to farmers to buy peace from time to time. It is equally unfortunate that farmers just accept the sops and go away, only to return when hard times hit them again.

India’s agricultural growth rate has hovered around 2-3% annually, when in fact it should be at least 5%. Former Prime Minister said Indian agriculture must grow at least at 4% without which there will be no real rural poverty alleviation and no relief to distressed farmers. India’s green revolution is fatigued and needs a scientific and technological boost.

Indian agriculture is sick and it needs a strong dose of bitter medicine Market based solutions are the only way forward. India investment in agricultural science and technology and rural infrastructure must be upped by 25% and Indian council of Agricultural research must be turned into a private research corporation headed by a business minded CEO and private equity participation must be brought into India’s agricultural R&D.

Secondary agriculture must drive rural economic development. Small-scale farmers and subsistence farming must be gradually phased out as its size is not economically viable in 21^st century. No amount of shoring up economically unviable agriculture can help. Stubbornly persisting on flogging a dead horse is not going to improve the farmer’s plight. The NDA government has given no evidence of its intent to set a future looking agenda so far. That is not good for the nation neither for the NDA electoral fortunes in the years to come. It needs to act fast.