Last few months had slew of bad news. However, the good news is that COVID lockdown has given ecology the opportunity to breathe again, there are umpteen indications of improving environment but the news which came on Aug 13th was a real testimony of this. “Large blue butterflies” successfully revived at UK the first time in 150 years, as part of an almost 40-year conservation project. These are globally endangered creatures which have a wingspan of more than two inches.
I have no hesitation in drawing it’s analogy to the changing Indian business environment for which government is taking baby steps. I am sure if not a decade but a few will surely help realise the dream to enliven the Indian entrepreneurial ‘Butterflies’ & ‘Bees’ i.e. ‘Start-up entrepreneurs’ and ‘Traditional MSMEs’ respectively in global diaspora to regain the glory we too lost 150 years ago.
Both of these Butterflies and Bees are indispensable in economy in the respective roles. The butterfly; flitting from one flower to the other off-course with a result but they’re easily fascinated by new things. These are “Serial Start-up entrepreneurs” the visionaries, early adopters, innovators, new trend spotters and quick to modernize while the Bees are so focused on achieving their goals that they rarely look up to reassess to modernise & disruptively innovate. The MSME leaders act as the queen Bee leading the efforts of worker bees who keep their heads down and get things done.
Robust economy demands equal opportunity and balanced approach in the environment of ‘Bulls’ i.e. Large enterprises. If there is a need for ‘Bulls’ for the scale advantage, we need ‘Butterflies’ and ‘Bees’ too for inclusive growth. Government needs to promote bees who will keep focus on the domain at hand and butterflies to drive innovation to capitalize on timely opportunities to stay relevant.
Around 150 years ago i.e. after East India Company rule (1764–1857), by 1870 India changed from an exporter of processed goods to an exporter of raw materials and a buyer of manufactured goods that is when the destiny took a turn. British economic policies gave them a monopoly over India’s large market and resources and pushed India to de-industrialisation and cessation of various craft industries which along with growth in the West resulted in India’s share of the world GDP declining from 24.4% in 1700 to 12% in 1870 and subsequently to 4% and still hovers around there. Our industrial output declined from 25% in 1750 to 2% of global in 1900. By 1820 itself India had fallen from highest GDP country of the world to second behind China and then never returned back. Today India’s GDP is 3.3% of global and at 5th position which is majorly supported by service sector unlike China’s Industrial stronghold.
There is no better time than this to start our Journey back to the golden era, the inclusive growth with MSMEs, Start-ups and reformed education system backed by exceptional execution is the key. Some of the Global economies, MSMEs accounts for 40-75% of GDP while in India it is still at 29% and off-course majorly unorganised. The way COVID crisis has been boon to environment it could also be an opportunity in disguise for Indian Economy in long run as it has already triggered manufacturing decentralisation from China and the momentum in infusion of quality brains in start-Up ecosystems due to bounty of time saved from travel & leisure.
We at India have started well with slew of Initiatives like Make for world, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Start-up India, Skill-Up India, Digital India, Policy on Entrepreneurship, Budget focus on MSMEs and corresponding policies along with seedlings of NEP2020. We have a great ecosystem in the making if all of these are synchronised and executed well by bureaucracy.
On the same lines, the ecosystem for Large blue succeeded due to it’s red ant populations which are crucial for butterfly’s life cycle. In the summer ants carry parasitic larva of the large blue to their nest. It’s at this point caterpillar feeds on ant grubs until it is ready to emerge. While Butterflies are symbolism of entrepreneurs, the Red Ants are synonymous to ‘bureaucracy’ and the restriction laid out by experts in the habitat are like ‘policies’, if managed well would be highly conducive. Experts restricted cattle grazing and controlled the area’s vegetation which are a source of food and a key egg laying habitat for the butterflies, bees & ant population too.
Creating the right conditions for this globally endangered butterfly thrive was decades of work. One of the greatest legacies of the project had been the power of working together and the benefit lent to other plants, insects, birds, bees and bats. Thus, in context of India economy the harmonious co-sustenance of entrepreneurial Bulls, Butterflies & Bees is key to take-off. Butterflies are such a sensitive creature, and the large blues are real barometers for what is happening with changing climate similarly MSMEs and Start-ups prosperity in future will indicate what ecosystem India is seeding today for the generations to come.
Disclaimer – This article is written in full personal capacity and free of charge. This has no conflict of interest with the organisation I work or the current role I perform in the organisation or the information I have access in the organisation. This write-up expresses personal views purely based on information easily and widely available in public domain. Rights to reproduce is protected with self.
Pravesh Soni
Guest Writer, Thought Leader and Non-Profit ‘Student Start-Up’ Mentor.
Reference
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_India
- https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/13/uk/large-blue-butterfly-intl-scli-gbr-scn/index.html
- https://www.inc.com/ariana-ayu/entrepreneur-personalities-the-butterfly-vs-the-bee.html
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