Punjab's NSDP per Capita in 1996 - Rs 17353 (Rank: 7)
Haryana in 1996: Rs 16611 (Rank:8)
By 2006, PB slipped to 11th rank with per capita NSDP of Rs 36199 and is overtaken by states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, HP etc. Haryana climbs to 6th rank with per capita NDPS of 42309 (2/)
Between 2000-2010, Sikkim recorded maximum growth rate of 577%, Uttarakhand 466%, MH 375%, GJ 321%, Goa 284%, Haryana 266%! While Punjab recorded a growth rate of mere 149%, 2nd last from bottom, just above Manipur (130%) which by the way suffers from raging insurgency. (3/)
FF to 2021, Haryana is ranked 5th with per capita NSDP of 2,63,649 while Punjab slipped to 19th pos with a per capita NSDP of 1,72,340. Between 2010 - 2020, PB recorded a growth of mere 157%, just above CG, JH and Meghalaya. (4/)
And, this is not due to some grand Sazish from someone! Punjab did well until the 80s, due to high growth rates following the green rev. Despite the turmoil and violence in 80s and 90s, Pb continued to reap benefits of Green Rev, well into the 90s. (5/)
However, in the decade of 2000, Pb missed the IT revolution happening in rest of India and it cost PB dearly. In general, industry was not only neglected, it is dissed in Pb to this date. Once upon a time, Ludhiana, Batala, Jalandhar boasted of thriving small scale industry (6/)
However, general contempt for industry in Pb (high taxes, high electricity cost, unfavourable land and labor laws, corruption etc.) drove industry out. Those still operating in Pb are dying a slow death.
An economy progresses from Agriculture -> Manufacturing -> Services. (7/)
But in PB's, this evolution is stalled. In general, interests of industry and agriculture are viewed as contradictory to each other, instead of being complimentary and this reflects in policymaking. An industrialist is viewed as a villain, looting money from poor peasants. (8/)
The neighbouring Haryana, which once was nothing compared to PB has benefitted immensely from the industrial belt of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Manesar, Palwal etc. OTOH, PB's erstwhile industrial belt of Ludhiana-Jalandhar has turned hostile to industry (9/)
Given the trend, Pb will only slip further down the rankings. The state which once was amongst the richest states, failed to capitalize and industrialize. Whereas, other states have tasted the benefits of rapid industrialization whereas PB is still stuck with Agriculture (10/)
Not that I am against Agri. Agri is essential but it must follow the next natural steps in evolution of an economy with manufacturing and industrialization.
And this my friends, is the reason why Punjabi kids are immigrating in droves to the west! (11/)
Current agri based economy of PB is unable to meet their aspirations. Pbi kids want to enjoy the life but there is no future for them in this agri based economy! They go to west, work their asses off, earn above median income and enjoy the riches and luxuries of capitalism (12/)
Unless PB industrializes rapidly, this trend will continue. Pbi kids will continue moving to the west in droves while ironically, they will resist every attempt to industrialize PB tooth and nail! (13/)