Inclusive growth entails responsible and sustainable creation as well as just distribution of both wealth and welfare. Social cohesion and human dignity lie at its core. It requires extending the available access to opportunities more widely; it is a key response to the rising inequalities undermining the sustainability of the global market economy, growth and development.
Rapid and sustained poverty reduction requires inclusive growth that allows people to contribute to and benefit from economic growth. We as the country men of the largest democracy speak, criticize, support, comment and compliment about growth of India, as an economy. But, have we really given a thought that if not the so called politicians of our country, then at least we as citizens can help our economy run faster and try curbing the diseases that makes our India to be called as one of the poor states in the world.
With 1.18 billion populations that accounts to approx 17.31% of the world population, India stands second to China for population. The hi-fi metros of India, where we reside don't just create the imagery identity of India, but, 72.2% of the population in India that resides in the rural areas as compared to 27.8% of the urban population paints the demographics of India. Urbanization in India has risen by 31.15% over the decade 1991-2001 (Source: last population census recording, 2001) and the literacy rate in India stands at 65.4%. To count some of the components of urban growth, the natural increase in urbanization due to economic development accounts to 59.4%, populations of newly established towns or less declassified towns account to 6.2%, 13% due to increase or expansion of urban areas, and the rural to urban migration stands at 21% (Source: Based on population census data). According to Economic Survey 2009-10, even though the service sector contributes around 60% to GDP; the growth of the GDP will be buoyed by Bull Run of Indian manufacturing sector for which the growth rate has picked up from 3.2% in 2008-09 to 8.9% in 2009-10 where as year-on- year growth decreased by 0.2% in the same period for the service sector, and the agricultural contribution showed up a mere decreased growth due to sub-normal rains. Increased private investments and spiraling merchandise export growth also are the other considered reason for India’s recovery from the economic crisis.
On seeing the somewhat impressive stats, feeling of pride and confidence is ought to seep within us, but, other side of the coin; if to be looked upon reveals that 325 million people live under poverty line. Well, that figure was just a trailer; here are few more facts, the United Nations World Food Programme says that the largest concentration of hunger in the world is in India: 230 million, or 27% of the world total. Fifty percent of child deaths are due to hunger. Nearly 43% of children under five are underweight, as compared to only 28% for sub-Saharan Africa. And, 70% of children under five are anemic, a figure that has risen by six per cent in the last six years (Source: Times of India). Approx 25% of the population in India is under poverty line (CIA World Fact-book, Feb 19-2010).
Now, how does the economic development of India sound? Even though the country is growing the gap between the rich and the poor is also growing. The equitable distribution of wealth and access to the available opportunities seems to be on a decline. Metros of India pull up the economic development in the country where as the backward regions like some of the central Indian states hook back the development. To add on to the spice are the naxal affected states where the government is not allowed to function properly by the naxalites. In such areas, the government is not able to establish the vehicles of government service delivery. Reason being the population in these areas don’t trust on the government amenities and promote rage against the government by taking up arms and ammunition. Apart from normal funds, government has been providing large amount of money for development in these areas like NREGA; road development scheme; Indira Awas Yojna; health-care, electrification and employment programs etc. In such areas, government interventions would not be successful to make the people realize the opportunities they are continuously denying. To address such problem, we all should try and make the population in such areas conscious about the available resources. Adding on to this, corruption the crook in any economy plays a vital role in keeping the societies undeveloped. According to our home minister, in his speech on inclusive growth in one of the conferences revealed that, out of the total money allotted for development 2/3rd is spent and 1/3rd is not spent and even though the items on which the spending is done is put down on the paper, but, the services are not delivered. Again its us, who are corrupted. The system needs to be redefined, the feedback and control needs to be setup, that too just to check ourselves. As civilians there seems to exist three categories in our country; first who have distrust on the government and think it should be fought upon at every stage; second the unconcerned voices who keep cursing the inefficiency of the government, third, the very few voices who at few places try to integrate people for the development of India and the Indians. Government as a part of its policy intervention can do few things like increase the vigilance standards and take steps for development of the society, but, to harness the opportunities the Indians should regard the government amenities well to use the resources. Keeping the government to a side, who are just a small group of people, its time for us the country men to get together as a team to pull up India and help it shine bright amongst all the economies. The true spirit of development is yet to begin. The potential of India & the Indians are yet to shine and this is to happen when not just few group of people just frame policies but, the India & the Indians come together, keeping behind all prejudice, to work as an united one and help our country INDIA shine at its best.
Rapid and sustained poverty reduction requires inclusive growth that allows people to contribute to and benefit from economic growth. We as the country men of the largest democracy speak, criticize, support, comment and compliment about growth of India, as an economy. But, have we really given a thought that if not the so called politicians of our country, then at least we as citizens can help our economy run faster and try curbing the diseases that makes our India to be called as one of the poor states in the world.
With 1.18 billion populations that accounts to approx 17.31% of the world population, India stands second to China for population. The hi-fi metros of India, where we reside don't just create the imagery identity of India, but, 72.2% of the population in India that resides in the rural areas as compared to 27.8% of the urban population paints the demographics of India. Urbanization in India has risen by 31.15% over the decade 1991-2001 (Source: last population census recording, 2001) and the literacy rate in India stands at 65.4%. To count some of the components of urban growth, the natural increase in urbanization due to economic development accounts to 59.4%, populations of newly established towns or less declassified towns account to 6.2%, 13% due to increase or expansion of urban areas, and the rural to urban migration stands at 21% (Source: Based on population census data). According to Economic Survey 2009-10, even though the service sector contributes around 60% to GDP; the growth of the GDP will be buoyed by Bull Run of Indian manufacturing sector for which the growth rate has picked up from 3.2% in 2008-09 to 8.9% in 2009-10 where as year-on- year growth decreased by 0.2% in the same period for the service sector, and the agricultural contribution showed up a mere decreased growth due to sub-normal rains. Increased private investments and spiraling merchandise export growth also are the other considered reason for India’s recovery from the economic crisis.
On seeing the somewhat impressive stats, feeling of pride and confidence is ought to seep within us, but, other side of the coin; if to be looked upon reveals that 325 million people live under poverty line. Well, that figure was just a trailer; here are few more facts, the United Nations World Food Programme says that the largest concentration of hunger in the world is in India: 230 million, or 27% of the world total. Fifty percent of child deaths are due to hunger. Nearly 43% of children under five are underweight, as compared to only 28% for sub-Saharan Africa. And, 70% of children under five are anemic, a figure that has risen by six per cent in the last six years (Source: Times of India). Approx 25% of the population in India is under poverty line (CIA World Fact-book, Feb 19-2010).
Now, how does the economic development of India sound? Even though the country is growing the gap between the rich and the poor is also growing. The equitable distribution of wealth and access to the available opportunities seems to be on a decline. Metros of India pull up the economic development in the country where as the backward regions like some of the central Indian states hook back the development. To add on to the spice are the naxal affected states where the government is not allowed to function properly by the naxalites. In such areas, the government is not able to establish the vehicles of government service delivery. Reason being the population in these areas don’t trust on the government amenities and promote rage against the government by taking up arms and ammunition. Apart from normal funds, government has been providing large amount of money for development in these areas like NREGA; road development scheme; Indira Awas Yojna; health-care, electrification and employment programs etc. In such areas, government interventions would not be successful to make the people realize the opportunities they are continuously denying. To address such problem, we all should try and make the population in such areas conscious about the available resources. Adding on to this, corruption the crook in any economy plays a vital role in keeping the societies undeveloped. According to our home minister, in his speech on inclusive growth in one of the conferences revealed that, out of the total money allotted for development 2/3rd is spent and 1/3rd is not spent and even though the items on which the spending is done is put down on the paper, but, the services are not delivered. Again its us, who are corrupted. The system needs to be redefined, the feedback and control needs to be setup, that too just to check ourselves. As civilians there seems to exist three categories in our country; first who have distrust on the government and think it should be fought upon at every stage; second the unconcerned voices who keep cursing the inefficiency of the government, third, the very few voices who at few places try to integrate people for the development of India and the Indians. Government as a part of its policy intervention can do few things like increase the vigilance standards and take steps for development of the society, but, to harness the opportunities the Indians should regard the government amenities well to use the resources. Keeping the government to a side, who are just a small group of people, its time for us the country men to get together as a team to pull up India and help it shine bright amongst all the economies. The true spirit of development is yet to begin. The potential of India & the Indians are yet to shine and this is to happen when not just few group of people just frame policies but, the India & the Indians come together, keeping behind all prejudice, to work as an united one and help our country INDIA shine at its best.
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