ECONOMIC REFORMS AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
There are a variety of methods by which a country‘s achievements can be judged. One of the most well-rounded and accepted indicators is the Human Development Index (HDI). Put in simple words. or in a layman’s language. the HDI measures the average accomplishments of a country in three basic departments; life expectancy” adult literacy and standard of living as assessed 0r evaluated by GDP per capita in purchasing power parity. Taking this composite measuring tape as a yardstick or benchmark, the United Nations Development Report, 2004, places India 127th in the list of 177 recorded countries.
The ranking. though not very flattering in terms of our size and potential, however, points to the genuine improvement of the Hesh and blood kind. No doubt. the quality of living of quite a few individual/[amilies has improved a lot since the year (when) economic reforms were introduced with a bang, yet the fact of the matter that stares in the face is that a majority of our population still yearns for the benefits of reforms to reach them in a more tangible and telling manner. There is no denying that the UNDP’S report supports the view of economic reformers, that the country has improved on the poverty front indicator that the ongoing economic reforms are not squeezing the poor out of the door as believed by many an ideologue. Without using the HDI report as an endorsement ticker, one can safely say that more. not less, reforms are the way forward for India to take its poor out of a harrowing mess.
If the process of economic reforms does not reflect a human face or it does not promote social justice. the consequences are bound to be anything but pleasant. The growing hiatus between the rich and the poor, between the urban and rural population. the sinister situation of farmers finding themselves under heavy debts and resorting to suicides, the shrinkage space of public sector jobs. et at points to the dangers ahead. Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “We can
not be content, no matter how high the general standard of living may be if some fraction of our people-whether it is one-third or one-fifth or one-month-is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed and insecure. We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought”. The truth in all its nakedness warns us to correct the course of our economic reforms before they become an irritant too disturbing to be tolerated. All development, whether economic, scientific or technological, without human development, is like half-baked bread that is neither tasty or digestive. No excuse or explanation is going to satisfy people if they are denied the basic inputs of a decent life. No statistics or upwardly moving graphs of GDP/Foreign Exchange Reserves and the like would calm their fears and give succor to their anger ' and angst.
Human development in all its aspects is the corner-stone of a successful socio-economic programme. So long as the paradigms of economic reforms remain elitist in nature and nuance, there would be enough voices of discontent and disturbance. Undoubtedly, opening doors to foreign capital and expertise does hold several advantages as the world economy integrates. But the fact remains that there are still some vulnerable sections of society that need hand-holding, even to enjoy the fruits of economic reforms/globalization.
On the human development front, India has to go many a mile before it joins the club of such nation-States as give pride of place and priority to human development in every conceivable way. In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, the Prime Minister reiterated his government’s resolve to identify agriculture, water, education. health-care. employment, urban renewal, and infrastructure as priority sectors. While economic reforms remain firmly rooted in government’s approach and appropriate action, they remain the most
meaningful means towards achieving the goal of human development. Nothing short of improving the quality-of-life 6f the common man would justify the relevance of reforms that we have introduced after much introspection. “without losing sight of the ground realities, that despite a high growth rate of the economy and economic reforms, India has failed to improve its social indicators; It is this grey area that needs tolightd and properly addressed.
“In no society are lifestyles or values static” (HDR-2004). With all the flaws and failures on various fronts, the UNDP Report holds India as an example of how “poor and diverse countries can do well with multi-cultural policies.”
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| Economic Reforms & Human Development |
The ranking. though not very flattering in terms of our size and potential, however, points to the genuine improvement of the Hesh and blood kind. No doubt. the quality of living of quite a few individual/[amilies has improved a lot since the year (when) economic reforms were introduced with a bang, yet the fact of the matter that stares in the face is that a majority of our population still yearns for the benefits of reforms to reach them in a more tangible and telling manner. There is no denying that the UNDP’S report supports the view of economic reformers, that the country has improved on the poverty front indicator that the ongoing economic reforms are not squeezing the poor out of the door as believed by many an ideologue. Without using the HDI report as an endorsement ticker, one can safely say that more. not less, reforms are the way forward for India to take its poor out of a harrowing mess.
If the process of economic reforms does not reflect a human face or it does not promote social justice. the consequences are bound to be anything but pleasant. The growing hiatus between the rich and the poor, between the urban and rural population. the sinister situation of farmers finding themselves under heavy debts and resorting to suicides, the shrinkage space of public sector jobs. et at points to the dangers ahead. Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “We can
not be content, no matter how high the general standard of living may be if some fraction of our people-whether it is one-third or one-fifth or one-month-is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed and insecure. We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought”. The truth in all its nakedness warns us to correct the course of our economic reforms before they become an irritant too disturbing to be tolerated. All development, whether economic, scientific or technological, without human development, is like half-baked bread that is neither tasty or digestive. No excuse or explanation is going to satisfy people if they are denied the basic inputs of a decent life. No statistics or upwardly moving graphs of GDP/Foreign Exchange Reserves and the like would calm their fears and give succor to their anger ' and angst.
Human development in all its aspects is the corner-stone of a successful socio-economic programme. So long as the paradigms of economic reforms remain elitist in nature and nuance, there would be enough voices of discontent and disturbance. Undoubtedly, opening doors to foreign capital and expertise does hold several advantages as the world economy integrates. But the fact remains that there are still some vulnerable sections of society that need hand-holding, even to enjoy the fruits of economic reforms/globalization.
On the human development front, India has to go many a mile before it joins the club of such nation-States as give pride of place and priority to human development in every conceivable way. In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, the Prime Minister reiterated his government’s resolve to identify agriculture, water, education. health-care. employment, urban renewal, and infrastructure as priority sectors. While economic reforms remain firmly rooted in government’s approach and appropriate action, they remain the most
meaningful means towards achieving the goal of human development. Nothing short of improving the quality-of-life 6f the common man would justify the relevance of reforms that we have introduced after much introspection. “without losing sight of the ground realities, that despite a high growth rate of the economy and economic reforms, India has failed to improve its social indicators; It is this grey area that needs tolightd and properly addressed.
“In no society are lifestyles or values static” (HDR-2004). With all the flaws and failures on various fronts, the UNDP Report holds India as an example of how “poor and diverse countries can do well with multi-cultural policies.”
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