Prasada rao lecture SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION
-
Upload
dr-n-sai-bhaskar-reddy -
Category
Education
-
view
65 -
download
4
description
Transcript of Prasada rao lecture SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION
OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANDOVERVIEW OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE COUNTRYPOLITICAL SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY- Dr. Prasada Rao, Dept. of Economics (Retd), Andhra University,
Waltair
Good Morning to all of you.
Major theme of the paper is to suggest some solutions to the problems this country is
facing now. We will find elaborate solutions to the problems this country is facing
now.
As a member of Lok Satta, Dr. Jayaparakash Narayan, a doctor by training, an
administrator, resigned his IAS position, thought about the problems this country is
facing. Governed by certain conduct and discipline, one of the great thinkers of this
country, started this Lok Satta. Aout two months back joined another organisation
called Janadesh in Karnataka. Mission is to strive and fight for political and
democratic reforms of this country.
Empowerment of Dalits, Children, women etc. Many prolems this coungry I facing
now, India is although rich in resources. Our country is facing all these problems
because of lack of good governance. People who are supposed to take this contry
forwared are not right. The system is like that. Working with smaller groups is
necessary but it is not the final soucltion. Ladership commitement, farreaching
democratica and political system.
I will com to the solution part at the end.
With this agenda as a person deeply inoved and concern of the disadvantaged people
for the long time.
You have one of the best advantages, for bringing change among rural people. Ve
Summary:
India appears to be poised to a big leap in the next two decades. Unique
demographic profile. India is riddled with problems, centrifugal forces threatening
this. Leap is inescapable. Weather to reach the heaven of freedom, RT, Status of
super power. Involvement of citizens. Dynamc and dedicated hones politicians to
bring change.
India vision 2020.
Tagores vision: The report of the committee Chair. SP Gupta. RT freedom. A quote
from Rabindra Nath tagores ‘Heaven of Freedom’. Tagores vision.
Summary of tagore: Fearlessness, selfrespect, knowledge is free, every individusl is
giben a choice, full potential to self a freedom envisaged by tagore.
When compared to this vision what do we have?
India per capita incove doubled, 1.6% pop growth. Trends of economic growth is
encouraging. India will become a super power. India attains a level of development at
par with upper with and middle income growth. Food stocks have improved. All these
forces.
Vision 2020 broader objectives:
9% growth in GNP: GNP has reduced by 6 to 7% this year.
Food for all: India achieved a self sufficiency in food granis in 1970s and growing
since then. From the status of importing food grains we have achieved self-
sufficiency. We are overflowing with food stocks and on the other side, people are
there with empty stomachs and under nourished. Produced enough food grains and
sulf sufficient but the problem is with distribution. Lack of purchasing power among
rural poor is another major concern. With globalization and liberalization the world
has shrunk and there is competition from all over the world. The total over all food
production is good and encouraging. Oil seeds and edible oils it is not satisfactory.
The WTO effect even destabilization in the production has come into effect. Fate of
suicides has increased, and it has not come down. Why? A serious thinking need to
be made. From brazil, other countries of Europe, our agriculture may not be able to
compete. Adequate amount of investment in research and development. We should
go for diversification. At such loads of yields, we man not be able to continue, imports
from abroad. Per Hec yield in India 5.3 world is 8
Maize 1.9 metric tones where in the world like 8 to 9 mt. The rulers and politicians
are responsible. With our levels of production. Diversification of cropping pattern.
From growing paddy wheat and food grains, our farmers should be able to grow
commercial crops. 800 mt is not enough.
Employment
35 million persons in 2002 are unemployed in India. India’s status of unemployed by
2020 would be 160 to 170 million. By 2020 we need to create employment to 200
million people. The organisation profile is 8% employment. People full time / part
time we voluntary create 10 million people. 92% emploument comes from
unorganized sector. We don’t know the problems, requirements, etc. The simmering
disgruntled unemployed youth would bring in chaos and disorder.
The organized, public and private sector. The employment opportunities in Public
sector are coming down because of disinvestments. Left is opposing, as people
would loose their jobs. During last government, people lost over 1 million jobs due to
disinvestments. Small and medium scale industries would create job opportunites, in
korea and japan this sector bringing in more opportunites. Our policy makers need to
think on this. We may not reach haven or freedom, but hell and Misery by
2020. We must concentrate training youth in small and medium and vocational
programmes.
Education alone would provide employment. It has grown, number people and
Number of colleges. But what is the quality? are increasing. Illiteracy is also
increasing because of growth of population. If at all any larning is there people
mugup and reproduce, not creativity and ingenuity. Formulate a good education plicy
in this country. Alloation of enough funds for education. The investments in education
is 3.2 to 4.4 percent in GNP should be atleast 8% of GNP.
Favourable demographic profile: Distribution of population age wise. In next 15
years, In majority of the countries in the world would have >65% of the population be
above 65 years of age. The overpopulation has become a boon / bane?
65% of our working population will be in the working age group (18 to 25 yrs).
The youth age group population is beneficial to many countries, contributing to the
growth of their countries. The youth require training and also should have necessary
skills in vocational programmes. The vocational skilled people in USA yearn more
than many other professionals.
Lots of forex to our country.
Countries like Japan and Korea, India’s expenditure is 1/60 of Korea, 1/340 of Japan is
the expenditure on research and developmet. To take advantage of population profile
and take advantage we need to be better equipped. We always boast of scientists
and engineers absolute but not of great quality. In proportion ot the percentage they
are more in Korea and USA.
Indian economy is a gabling,
Agriculture still plays an important role in the economy wether it is drought / floods.
Population is increasing and unemployment defineltly they will be unsatisfied. This
country might face a catastrophy.
What is the leadership we have on economic, social and other fronts. To summarise
the economic dimension. One is growing bublic debt. The central and state govts are
borrowing both right and left, where are they spending this money, not on social,
education, housing and health. Where is this money is gowing. It is estimated that
our bublic debt runs into per capita >Rs. 20,000 per head. That Rs. 1 lakh per family.
For salaries, repayment, defence etc. Very little is left to spend on social and other
needy sectors.
Health for All
It has improved a lot. People are living longer. Infant mortality has also reduced by
60 to 70%. Similarly birth rates have come down. Simultaneously we need to
address, environmental pollution, health, and other issues etc.
What next
To bring in metamorphosis, a change what we shall do? Large part of the borrowings
are going into areas where the politician can grab money for himself. If we undertake
irrigation projects huge amount. Money is being paid to contractors and they are not
doing any work. The real estate boom is very high now, it could be the black money,
corrupt politicaians, bureaucrats, etc. Govt. should prioritise the areas for
investment.
The money and efforts are not going into areas where they need to be spent. Who
should look into this, Politician or bureaucracy or Judiciary. In democracy the
Judiciary, Legislature and Bureaucracy should be separated. In India there is unholy
nexus between the three unfortunately.
Between these three wings of the government, there could be justice to all. But they
got mixed up now. The politician has become unscrupulous, the bureaucracy has also
become corrupt learning form other. The police officers have also become corrupt.
The MLA / Legislator decides the beneficiaries. In Visakhapatnam lots of money was
distributed in the name of tsunami, but why they were distributed money. The
fishermen whose boats were not destroyed were also paid. Tainted ministers were
taken into the cabinet all the Govts. are doing similarly. Omnipotent legislator is
controlling the reins of this country.
What sort of people are entering into politics. There are also some good people. But
vast majority of people are coming into politics with vested interests and to make
business. 100 members have criminal record of one kind or the other in parliament.
In state legislator there are plenty. A few powerful and dynastic rulers are controlling
this country. Similarly in every state such dynastic families are ruling.
There is no good response from the bureaucracy. Politician dominating the entire
scene from top to bottom. The election process is also very defective. Lok Satta
conducted survey, it is found that 40% and 80% of the votes in Urban and Rural
Center are defective. That is why due the efforts of Lok Satta a through list has been
prepared. Impersonation, buying liquor and money are there in the political situation.
Bureaucrats:
The word Civil Servant signify, to be
We are paying for their salaries he is bound to be civil and courteous to us, and they
need to do service to us. So there are neither Civil nor service oriented towards us.
The rapid decline of the quality of the civil servents declined from the emergency
period in 1970s.
They do favours to the politicians and vice-versa. A senior official was using 9
vehicles for her service. The cabinet member himself was not having a vehicle. CBI
has also become corrupt too. In telugu there is a saying “Kanch Chenu Meste evaru
dikku”
Judiciary:
Justice delayed is justice denied. There are 30 million cases pending in courts at the
present pase it would take 300 years to dispose them. The criminal procedure and
evidence procedures should change. They have a vested interest in this, if everything
is as per the rule of the law, then they can survive. Litigation has become expensive.
They are resolved into settlements in towns and villages. The poor man cannot thing
of getting justice. In Gujarat a Judge has taken rs40,000/- and issued non-bailable
warrents against the president and chief-justice of India. That is the fate of judiciary
in India. I\
Corruption
It is in a rotten state. We have become corrupt. Ours is top in the list of corruption.
Lot of work has been done. In this regard Dr. Mahabubhal Haq of Pakistan, has done
a lot on the governance problems. With out corruption the economic growth rate can
be increased by 1.5% in Pakistan. In India it is said that corruption, corruption occurs
upstream not downstream, at higher level it is more dangerous. Corruption takes
wings rather wheels, a higher level person would put it in swiss banks, downstream
people would invest in the country.
Coruption occurs in India with 260 million peoples. The corruption is causing lots of
damage to the poverty striken.
What next
Through democratic reforms we can change the present scenario.
All the contesting people should submit their affidavit on their, status, criminal record
etc. Supreme court said ok. But the CEC said that the govt should decide on this. In
parliament it was decided by all the politicians and said we need not give. SC
squashed this order and said you need to furnish. Like Lok Satta we need to take a
active role and change the situation.
The problems of this country can be solved. Only if proper original leadership is
choosen or elected only then the problems can be solved. The present elected people
majority of them have com
1. The first past the post system – simple representation of the proportional
representation system, things can be set to a large extent. Everyone will have
two votes, to the candidate and to the party. Half of the members 140 will be
elected on the basis of votes and the other 140 would be by the political party
representing people from their side based on the sex, caste, etc. Developed in
many developing countries, and being campaigned by Janadesh, Lok Satta (“Vote
India” campaign) etc.
2. Direct representation of the head of the state like CM. The people have choice.
3. Internal democracy and transparency with in the political parties.
Transcript of lecture by: Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy