<i>Mudiji
The Indian economy is expected to be growing at a rate of above 9 percent in the next ten years, that is the prediction of the experts. The leading rating agencies of the world have also indicated an enhancement in the economic rating of India, which is expected to enhance the inflow of foreign capital, particularly FDI into India. All these developments are very welcome sign. The expected growth of the Indian economy in the next two decades is expected to bring in vast social changes as with the increase in the employment opportunity around the country, there will be more urbanization and movement of people from one area to another within the country to man these new jobs.
At the same time, there will be increasing demand in the country for more land for industrial use. The demand for more land for the new industries in the various States may cause much tension and resentment amongst certain section of the general public. We have just witnessed one such example in West Bengal. A study by the Congress Party is understood to have indicated that the move to set up Special Economic Zones in different parts of the country by State acquiring agricultural land may cause severe resentment amongst the people who are going to loose land.
Apart from these problems, the orientation of our economic development needs adjustment so that the fruits of the economic growth reach the 200 million of the poorest of the poor people in India. In the last one decade there has been some improvement in the condition of a very small percentage of these people as a result of our economic growth. It has in fact given a major boost to the economic prosperity of the Indian middle class, which has also swelled in its number.
The need of the hour is to address the core issues facing the most vulnerable section of the society. Now what are the most important problems that we need to tackle to make an immediate impact. Some of the important issues are housing, health care, education and lastly job for the entire work force of the country.
The industrial growth of the nation alone is not going to bring in the change. A vast majority of India still lives in the villages and the economic and social development of the village will be the nodal point for creating any major impact on the condition of the most economically vulnerable section of our society.
In the past and even currently the Government have several development programs, which are aimed at addressing these core problems. However, the impact of these programes has not been much on the socio economic condition of the weaker and economically vulnerable section of the society. In India the infant mortality rate remains high and so is the lack of nutrition among the children and the young mothers. The health facility available to the general public both in the rural and urban areas remains far from satisfactory. Although we have reached a literacy rate of 65 percent, still a substantial number of children do drop out at the primary school stage and the enrolment of the girls remains considerably low in many of the States. The agricultural sector is still faced with inadequate Marketing Avenue for products produced by the marginal and medium farmers.
The sudden increase in the phase of industrialization has brought in substantial increase in the demand for power. Since, the generation capacity is much less than the pick demand there is long hours of power cuts in the country and most of the power cuts is in the rural areas including the agricultural sector.
In the educational sector, the rural schools often lacks the basic facilities and there is shortage of teachers in various States. Even where there is availability of teachers there attendance is very low. Coupled with this is the problem of parentâs reluctance in sending their children to school.
Every year in the rural areas, the Government undertakes small developmental work under the food for work scheme but here again there has been no permanent impact of these small time localized developmental works and after each rainy season not much is left of these developmental works. Even today vast areas in the agricultural sector has no assured irrigation facility except dependent on rain.
With the current ongoing liberalization process in full swing it is only a matter of time before the big business houses enter into retail trade particularly in dealing with farm products in a big way. It is too early to product its impact on the small time vegetable and fruit vendor in the country. In view of these developments it is high time to have a look on the impact of our economic growth on other aspects of our social life as well as other problems that may arise as a result of increased urbanization, economic disparity, more cars and vehicles on the streets etc. It is going to affect life in both the urban and rural areas of India.
So it is high time to examine the various aspects of the current economic boom so that a better deal can be ensured for the poorest of the citizens of the country. I hope we can have a lively debate on these issues which may genera new ideas.</i>
The Indian economy is expected to be growing at a rate of above 9 percent in the next ten years, that is the prediction of the experts. The leading rating agencies of the world have also indicated an enhancement in the economic rating of India, which is expected to enhance the inflow of foreign capital, particularly FDI into India. All these developments are very welcome sign. The expected growth of the Indian economy in the next two decades is expected to bring in vast social changes as with the increase in the employment opportunity around the country, there will be more urbanization and movement of people from one area to another within the country to man these new jobs.
At the same time, there will be increasing demand in the country for more land for industrial use. The demand for more land for the new industries in the various States may cause much tension and resentment amongst certain section of the general public. We have just witnessed one such example in West Bengal. A study by the Congress Party is understood to have indicated that the move to set up Special Economic Zones in different parts of the country by State acquiring agricultural land may cause severe resentment amongst the people who are going to loose land.
Apart from these problems, the orientation of our economic development needs adjustment so that the fruits of the economic growth reach the 200 million of the poorest of the poor people in India. In the last one decade there has been some improvement in the condition of a very small percentage of these people as a result of our economic growth. It has in fact given a major boost to the economic prosperity of the Indian middle class, which has also swelled in its number.
The need of the hour is to address the core issues facing the most vulnerable section of the society. Now what are the most important problems that we need to tackle to make an immediate impact. Some of the important issues are housing, health care, education and lastly job for the entire work force of the country.
The industrial growth of the nation alone is not going to bring in the change. A vast majority of India still lives in the villages and the economic and social development of the village will be the nodal point for creating any major impact on the condition of the most economically vulnerable section of our society.
In the past and even currently the Government have several development programs, which are aimed at addressing these core problems. However, the impact of these programes has not been much on the socio economic condition of the weaker and economically vulnerable section of the society. In India the infant mortality rate remains high and so is the lack of nutrition among the children and the young mothers. The health facility available to the general public both in the rural and urban areas remains far from satisfactory. Although we have reached a literacy rate of 65 percent, still a substantial number of children do drop out at the primary school stage and the enrolment of the girls remains considerably low in many of the States. The agricultural sector is still faced with inadequate Marketing Avenue for products produced by the marginal and medium farmers.
The sudden increase in the phase of industrialization has brought in substantial increase in the demand for power. Since, the generation capacity is much less than the pick demand there is long hours of power cuts in the country and most of the power cuts is in the rural areas including the agricultural sector.
In the educational sector, the rural schools often lacks the basic facilities and there is shortage of teachers in various States. Even where there is availability of teachers there attendance is very low. Coupled with this is the problem of parentâs reluctance in sending their children to school.
Every year in the rural areas, the Government undertakes small developmental work under the food for work scheme but here again there has been no permanent impact of these small time localized developmental works and after each rainy season not much is left of these developmental works. Even today vast areas in the agricultural sector has no assured irrigation facility except dependent on rain.
With the current ongoing liberalization process in full swing it is only a matter of time before the big business houses enter into retail trade particularly in dealing with farm products in a big way. It is too early to product its impact on the small time vegetable and fruit vendor in the country. In view of these developments it is high time to have a look on the impact of our economic growth on other aspects of our social life as well as other problems that may arise as a result of increased urbanization, economic disparity, more cars and vehicles on the streets etc. It is going to affect life in both the urban and rural areas of India.
So it is high time to examine the various aspects of the current economic boom so that a better deal can be ensured for the poorest of the citizens of the country. I hope we can have a lively debate on these issues which may genera new ideas.</i>