In this episode, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by TNM’s Shabbir Ahmed, political and policy consultant Tara Krishnaswamy, and former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai.
The panel first digs into Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent statements on the startup ecosystem that kicked up a hornet’s nest last week. Mohandas says that it is not right to “demean” delivery-based startups as “they are also a part of the innovation cycle”. Highlighting how the lack of domestic capital and investment in research and development is the real issue, he says: “India has spent just USD 160 billion on startups since 2014. Compare that to China’s USD 845 billion. The problem isn’t delivery apps, it’s the lack of domestic capital and investment in research and development.”
Tara agrees with his remarks on lack of government support. “To build a deep-tech ecosystem, we need to invest in education, research, and infrastructure. India doesn't lack talent, it lacks systems that support it,” she says.
Pooja points out how only eight percent of Indian startups make it beyond 10 years. “We talk about being a 1.4 billion market – but only a small fraction can actually afford these services,” she says.
As the conversation shifts to the tussle between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi, Shabbir says, “The recent Supreme Court verdict is a win for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and other opposition-ruled states. Governor RN Ravi sitting on bills was a clear abuse of power.”
Dhanya says Constitution makers probably never imagined governors sitting on bills for months and not acting on them. “In Kerala, the last governor sat on a bill for 23 months,” she points out.
Tara says, “Only 25 percent of governors have completed their terms. Most are either political appointees or retired judges. This is not sustainable.”
On whether the post of governor serves a purpose, the panel agrees that reforms are overdue. Tara proposes having governors elected through an electoral college, like the president. “Another option would be to abolish the post entirely.”
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Audio timecodes
00:00:00 – Introductions
00:01:24 – Announcements
00:02:19 – Headlines
00:20:24 – Startup ecosystem in India
00:49:41 – State vs Governor
01:21:58 – Recommendations
References
0% work, 80% bill: How corruption in infra contracts works in Bengaluru
RSS and BJP’s quiet takeover of Auroville
Inside Auroville: Power, profit, and plans for a federal enclave
TN Governor Ravi alleges virginity test done on minors in Chidambaram, inquiry ordered
Recommendations
Tara Krishnaswamy
Mohandas Pai
Delimitation and States Reorganization
Shabbir Ahmed
The Hidden Losses of India’s Solar Parks | Beneath The Panel
Pooja Prasanna
RSS and BJP’s quiet takeover of Auroville
Inside Auroville: Power, profit, and plans for a federal enclave
Dhanya Rajendran
RSS and BJP’s quiet takeover of Auroville
Inside Auroville: Power, profit, and plans for a federal enclave
Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali.
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