Bheem Singh

Dy. Manager (Law)

RHQ, POWERGRID, Patna

Title:- “Role of Integrity in achieving the goal of Self Reliance”

The India of 2021 is a confident nation with a modern outlook and a firm
belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or “the World is one Family”. India has turned
75 years old since its independence and it has come a long way from being a
colonized country to becoming the biggest democracy of the world. In 1947, India
was a country with a large impoverished population, fledgling industries and
suffering from food shortages. However, thereafter over the time it has
successfully planned and implemented various Revolutions/programmes such as
Green Revolution (that ensures food security for the more than 1.35 billion
population), White revolution (that fulfils the dairy related needs of the country)
and Digital revolution (which fulfils the new India’s aspirations) and many mores
which cumulative helped it to become Atmanirbhar for its needs as on date.
“Make in India” is another such visionary programmes launched by Govt. of
India in 2014 for giving self- reliance to manufacturing sectors which focuses on
making things in India and selling them out to the countries. In fact, through this
programme India invites the global investors to come and make the things in
India. It has liberalised its tax systems, various regulations and laws in order to
facilitate the investors to do the business in India smoothly.
India’s growth story has been impressive, from agricultural production to
nuclear and space technology, from affordable health care to world-class
educational institutions, from Ayurveda to biotechnology, from giant steel plants
to becoming an IT power and having the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the
world. As regards space technology, besides its Moon and Mars missions, India is
preparing for a human space flight mission. Its space programme is one of the
most advanced and cost-effective in the world. India has launched hundreds of
communications and remote sensing satellites, contributing to tele-education,
weather forecasting and remote resource mapping. Today, India is almost self-
reliant and no more dependent on other countries for its needs/existence, it has
got developed enough to fulfil its own needs as well as that of others.
The idea of self-reliance rests on ability to depend on self to get things done
and to meet own needs. In larger context, self-reliance is the social and economic
ability of a country to meet out its essential needs (food, water, shelter, personal
safety protection health and education etc.) in a sustainable manner and with
dignity. There are basically five segments of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) which
focus on Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand.
Today, India has been able to work on all the above fronts to become Atmanirbhar
(self-reliant). It is also true that the coronavirus pandemic has taught a lesson to the
world that globalisation is important but being self-reliant is also necessary. Today,
India has also become self-reliant in the battle against the novel coronavirus
pandemic. This can be seen through the fact that at the beginning of corona
pandemic spread over, "India had to import PPE kits, masks, ventilators and
testing kits from outside but today our nation is self-reliant. That is evident from
the fact that from zero production of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) before
March 2020, India today has created a capacity of producing 2 lakh PPE kits daily,
which is also growing steadily. Additionally, India has demonstrated how it rises
up to challenges and uncovers opportunities therein, as manifested in the re-
purposing of various automobile sector industries to collaborate in the making of
life-saving ventilators. Today, India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in
India' Covid-19 vaccines.” At present, India is a major vaccine producer and
produces two Covid-19 vaccines – the Covishield (AstraZeneca) and the
indigenously developed Covaxin. More vaccines are in the pipeline. Around 500
million vaccines have been administered in India. Through its Vaccine Maitri (or
Friendship) outreach, India has donated and supplied 66 million vaccines to
countries across the world. Since the pandemic, India has also supplied/sold
essential medicines to over 150 countries which enabled the resurgence of the
Indian economy.
 The role of integrity becomes more important when it comes to a country
aspiring to become self-reliant. Without integrity it is difficult to develop strong
diplomatic/political/business relationship with other countries. Here, we would
be discussing as to how integrity helps a country to become self -reliant.
Generally, integrity means firm adherence to code of moral
values/incorruptibility. A person/country with integrity behaves ethically and
does the right things, even behind closed doors. When a country possess integrity,
it gains the trust of business partners and nations at large. Integrity determines
the reputation. Having integrity means living in accordance with the deepest
values, being honest with everyone and always to keep words. Without integrity,
a country is regarded as less than civilised, probably politically and financially
corrupt, and its government as untrustworthy and unreliable. In short, Integrity
helps a person/country to make trustworthy bonds with people/countries across
the globe. Somebody has rightly said that honesty is telling the truth to other
people, and integrity is telling the truth to oneself.”
This perception of integrity has led the countries across the globe to believe
that India is a country which can be trusted for political/diplomatic as well as for
building business and trade relationships. It is the very truth that integrity helps
in building good relations with other people/countries. The faith/integrity ridden
trade with others helps a country like ours to get developed economically. India,
has been pioneer of human values and ethics, therefore it is being trusted by
world for developing trade relationship giving back the economic booster to the
country to move towards the goal of being self-reliant.
It is the reality that Country like China is leading the world and is doing
good in trades and businesses. Many of the countries are dependent on China for
their life lines. Chinese Products are being sold and purchased at large scale and
in almost all the countries in the world. Still, Chinese products are seen by
counties from suspected eyes just because China lacks integrity. On the other
hand, Country like India is becoming the most choiced hub for trade and business
just because it always had shown firm belief in ethical values and principles of
integrity while discharging its part for relationships with the world. In day to day
life, the impact of integrity in business can also be understood from the example
 of common faith of people shown on the products made/sold by TATA group of
companies. On random check basis, we would find that in our country, products
sold by TATA group of companies are considered most reliable and trust worthy
in comparison to the products sold by other big local and global
brands/companies just because TATA has always been known for doing
trade/business based on its ethical values and principles of integrity. Similar
principles of integrity as mentioned above are also applicable at world level for
building the good trade relationships between the countries. Means the Country
which have higher Integrity will be considered more reliable and trustworthy for
building the business relationships. Thus, integrity directly or indirectly helps a
country to become self-reliant and trust worthy for others.
Today, we can say with great pride that our country has achieved self-
reliance in almost all the facet of human life be it in the field of agricultural
products, dairy products, research and development, science and technology,
sports, health, education, defence items or business matters. It is also true that
now countries in the world look back to India to get support from it in solving
their myriad problems. Today, we are not limited only up to fulfilling of our
needs but also doing good in business with other countries and fulfilling their
needs too. This has been possible because of high level of integrity maintained by
the Country while furthering relationship with world at large since time
immemorial. The India of 2021 is an Atmanirbhar Bharat or Self-Reliant India
which seeks to participate in global issues from a position of strength.

Shri Bheem Singh has done LL.B., LL.M., (UGC/JRF), Ph.D. (Pursuing) and holds keen interest
in writing research papers, legal articles, columns, blogs and books. In his credit he holds a
published book titled “Patent and Public Health”. He has also participated in various
national conferences and seminars held over various emerging legal issues. In the recent
past, Shri Bheem Singh has been called by various renowned Law universities for delivering
lectures and judging the moot courts competitions. At present, he is diligently serving the
corporation as Deputy Manager (Law) in ERTS-I, POWERGRID, Patna.