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Millennium Development Goals & 
The 3rd Largest Economy Post May 16


While, being No:3 among the larger global economies may improve our international stock, it is more important that our own domestic problems have to be better addressed with genuine concern. At the end of the day, it is the human capital which is more important than capital formation. The present dispensation at the centre headed by a controversial but dynamic leader is expected to address this issue of Human Development Index (HDI) more than the index at the share market. Hope post May 16, 2014, things should look up for Indians rather than Brand India.     

“India replaced Japan as the 3rd largest economy after U.S. & China, say data released by the World Bank” informed a media report on 1st May. Reportedly the data was related to 2011. So, it may well be true that India is indeed world’s 3rd largest economy. But frankly, does it really calls for celebration? is a question staring at all thinking Indians. Around the same time Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was speaking to his Planning Commission officials and staff, at New Delhi. He was making his farewell speech. He is reported to have remarked “India’s growth story is a work-in-progress”. Indeed, he couldn’t have been more right. 

Looking back over the shoulder, the labyrinth that Indian development has traversed, is indeed quit wonky with too many cliffs and valleys. Whole of our growth story has produced many billionaires and millions of millionaires, but it has also left a huge section of Indians, of close to 50%, with earnings at below 2 $ a day. For this section of Indians it’s been a continuous work-in-progress. We could never, during all these 60+ years of 12 five-yearly-development plans, come out of ‘developing country’ label.   

India is a country with immense possibilities, both in resource terms 

as well as human terms. Yet couldn’t make it big despite over six decades of developmental exercise. Is it a case of governance failure? Or a case of unimaginative leadership? Or simply a lack of socio-political will to do better? Or is it the combination of all of them? These are all questions making its interminable rounds.

    Constitution makers of India, when they formally presented it to the country, included in its preamble, Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), as a guide for the state for the establishment of a welfare state based on egalitarian social order. Among other things, it had enshrined in the constitution that “The state shall endeavor to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of the constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years”. That was in 1950. And it took 60 years for the managers of the country’s affairs to enact Right to Education (RTE) as a fundamental right. 

     But, ask Mr. A Subramanian of the Save the Children. He has a valid complaint. “Terminal 3 in New Delhi’s international airport just took 37 months to go from conception to reality. But it took 63 years to enact Right to Education bill and it is stalled because of lack of funds”. And he asks a relevant question. “Have we got our priorities wrong”? 

Indeed, it’s deeply disturbing that for all the 6 decades of planned economic growth, our priorities have been, for most part, misplaced. Article 39 of the DPSP lays down principles of policy to be followed by the state, 'for providing an adequate means of livelihood for all citizens, equal pay for equal work for men and women, proper working condition, reduction of concentration of wealth and means of production in the hands of a few and distribution of community resources to sub-serve the common good.' But what is the ground reality after 12 five-yearly developmental plans of redistributive exercise? 

Speaking to Indians after unfurling the tricolour on 15th Aug. Dr Manmohan Singh had stated “Today India stands among the fastest growing economies of the world. As the world’s largest democracy we have become an example for many other countries to emulate”. It is true that India has made globally recognizable achievements on many fronts. It is steadily growing in its clout as a regional power. Morgan Stanley had even predicted some years ago that India will surpass China in growth, within the next 5 years. Whether it will happen or not, the fact is, there is visible growth. Yet, it is also very true that we still have many gargantuan problems defying management and solution. However it is also true that these problems are not peculiar to India only, there are hundreds of countries of Africa, Latin America and Asia, who too have similar problems in different degrees. But the harsh truth is, India is home to the largest number of poor people. India is home to the largest number of malnourished children. India is home to the largest number of households without toilets. To address these socio-economic problems, the world over, United Nations organizations, had declared some fourteen years ago what is known as Millennium Development Goals. 

It was on Sept 8 2000, United Nations made this ‘Millennium Declaration’ at the UN Millennium summit at New York. This declaration was signed by 189 countries. Declaration had eight goals called Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs) to achieve. It gave the signatories (189 countries), time of 15 years up to 2015, to accomplish these goals. Those goals are, 

1.Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty. 2. Achieve Universal Primary Education. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. 4. Reduce child Mortality. 5. Improve Maternal Health. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other Diseases. 7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability. 8. Develop a global Partnership for development.

As is evident, it was basically an initiative to fight the scourge of poverty, hunger and disease, the world over, targeting primarily the health of women and children worldwide. 

Targets are (1) Halve by 2015, proportion of population below national poverty level (2) Halve by 2015, proportion of people who suffer from hunger (3) Ensure that by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary education.(4) Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education in all levels of education by 2015. (5) Reduce by 2/3rd , the under five mortality rate by 2015. (6) Reduce to a quarter, maternal mortality ratio by 2015 (7) To halt and to begin reversal of spread of HIV/AIDS (8) To halt and to begin reversal of spread of malaria and other major diseases. (9) To integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources (10) To halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. (11) To have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. (12) In cooperation with private sector, both national and international, make available, the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication. 

Thus the world body’s intention of lifting the overall well being of global population through the participation of 189 member countries is very loudable. This will become possible with the involvement of all signatories to the declaration. Surely 189 countries are endowed with its own strength and problems. Those with strength shall contribute to the UN kitty to augment fund and other tangible assets and those with problems shall try their best to overcome those problems within their respective countries. There are countries which shall be only givers and those who are only receivers. But there may be countries which are both receiver and giver. India has its strength and problems. It has committed to do its best to overcome its persisting problems. 2015 is only an year away. Since 2000, for 14 long years, its contribution to improve its own problems have been inconsistent and uneven although not very unsatisfactory. 

How have we, the government of India, performed to achieve the targets set by these goals from 2000 to 2014, now that only a little over one year is left for the target year?     

Statistics apart, despite good intentions there have been uneven progress in the effort to reach the target. In every MDG, there have been positive differences. But those differences were well below the target set, hence very unlikely that the Sept 2015 goal shall be achieved. Current rates of progress on many indicators are not sufficient to meet many of the child related National Development Targets nor the MDGs by 2015. According to reports, poverty has come down, literacy among children has gone up, but gone up also is the school dropout. Only 4 out of 10 girls who enroll complete 8 years of schooling. Every state has been doing its bit in addressing the issue of hunger. They were more as political move or vote bank politics rather than an issue of concern. Female infanticide although not on the rise, more could have been done by the authorities. Some improvements are reported in child mortality but maternal health especially among pregnant and lactating mothers are still a matter of concern. Some 42% of households without latrines globally are in India, and Indian children make up one-third of the world’s malnourished children. Issues related to child protection, including trafficking and child labour are becoming more pronounced. Repeated and extensive emergencies such as tsunami, flooding and earthquakes have also adversely affected the lives of children in India. This uneven development path has been further exacerbated by persistent inequities by gender, caste and geography. While HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to spread and poses a significant threat, there is near eradication of polio, and eradication of malaria is still a long way. GOI has adopted ambitious targets related to children that are in line with, and at times, more ambitious than, the MDGs. Centrally-sponsored schemes have increased public resources to key sectors, notably the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in education, the Reproductive and Child Health Programme II, the National Rural Health Mission and the Integrated Child Development Services. The challenge remains to convert these commitments and resources into measurable results for all children, especially those belonging to socially disadvantaged and marginalized communities. Ensuring environmental sustainability and developing global partnership for development, India is still lagging behind. All in all, spurred by UN declaration, India has progressed, but not enough. Lot still need to be done. While, being No:3 among the larger global economies may improve our international stock, it is more important that our own domestic problems have to be better addressed with genuine concern. At the end of the day, it is the human capital which is more important than capital formation. The present dispensation at the centre headed by a controversial but dynamic leader is expected to address this issue of Human Development Index (HDI) more than the index at the share market. Hope post May 16, 2014, things should look up for Indians rather than Brand India.   

WILL THE ‘RIGHT TURN’

                        BE RIGHT FOR INDIA? 

From a mere 2 seats in 1984, to win 284 seats in 25 years, it is indeed a massive surge, especially when only 5 years ago in 2009, it had only 106 seats. Thus, the truth become very apparent that it is not the BJP which has won these seats, it is the NAMO wave which swept the nation. However, what is true also is, 69% electorates, did not vote for him or BJP. Only 31% voted for him. 

Election 2014, has come and gone. It has thrown up its decisive mandate. It is an unparalelled verdict in the context of an ever evolving India. For the first time, in 25 years, a single party has won a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. That too, the unthinkable has happened. Country took a sharp right turn. It is unprecedented. Rajeev Gandhi won 414 seats in 1984 on the sympathy wave over the assassination of his mother. It is rather unfortunate, he lost it all in just 5 years. Congress couldn’t get even a simple majority. From then on coalition came to stay. For all the 25 years from 1989 to 2014, it was the govt. of the convenient for the convenience of the convenient. Everybody helped themselves, and country came a cropper. It had to change. AAP came along with a big hope but failed to sustain the hope. A go-getter in the Indian political firmament emerged. It will be an interesting study, why the BJP leadership, or rather its President Rajnath Singh, thought, that Narendra Modi could be the horse that he can bet on. Obviously Rajnath Singh was convinced that NAMO had the potential to turn the table. And turn the table, he did, so very magnificently, like no one else could have done. 

From a mere 2 seats in 1984, to win 284 seats in 25 years, it is indeed a massive surge, especially when only 5 years ago in 2009, it had only 106 seats. Thus, the truth become very apparent that it is not the BJP which has won these seats, it is the NAMO wave which swept the nation. However, what is true also is, 69% electorates, did not vote for him or BJP. Only 31% voted for him. 

Of course, this 69% is divided among over dozens of other parties, which include Congress, AIADMK, TMC, BJD, who have won 27% of seats as against 63% of BJP & allies. Other parties, like NCP, SP, CPM, AAP, TRS, LJS, PDP won remaining seats. But then vote share and number of seats have always been a mismatch. Congress got 44 seats with 19.3% vote share, but AIADMK got 37 seats with only 3.3% and BSP with 4.1% vote share had no seat at all. Such dichotomy is more a norm than an aberration during election time. Of course we have to add the vote share of  ShivSena, Shiromani Akali Dal, Telugu Desam Party and Lok Jan Shakthi of 6% to the 31% of BJP, since they are alliance partners in NDA.    

In any case what is important, when all is said and done is, Jo Jeetha Wohi Sikandar. And the truth is except some regional parties all national parties are devastated at the completely unexpected victory of Modi led NDA. So, for the next 5 years, Modi government will be in place, and chances are, with the kind of appropriate noises that Modi is making, it would look set for long innings. The spectacle of Modi bowing and touching his forehead on the steps leading to the parliament house has won him millions of hearts, who witnessed it, and the acceptance speech that he made in the Central Hall of the parliament has sent clear signals of taking everybody along. He was gracious in saying ‘there are no enemies in politics. It is our responsibility to take everyone along?’ He acknowledged openly that ‘various governments in the past tried to do some good work in their own way, for which they deserve appreciation?’. He must have been ambitious to be at the top of happenings, but having arrived on the big stage, appears to have made him humble. It augurs well for the ‘Idea of India’, which was, so far perceived to be, under threat. That is a very good sign. He is unexpectedly warm to one and all. Although some 69% voters did not vote for him, he has apparently created an impression that they need not fear him. His being a single man without any visible weakness, and without any family obligation, put him at an unique advantage unlike anybody else in the entire political spectrum. 

His invite to SAARC heads of state was, by any stretch of imagination, a diplomatic master stroke. 

His friendship with Corporate Houses, in coming days may become more businesslike in the pan Indian picture, unlike in the past. Private sector, whether national or international has enough skeletons in its cupboards and board rooms. From now on he may not rush, where angels fear to tread. 

He will not want his present government at Delhi to be the 1st and the last. He has already promised to take everybody along. He is India’s Prime Minister not of BJP alone. We are optimistic he will live by this hope. Happily Modi gives a clear indication of flexibility of co-operative co-existence. He will be a performing Prime Minister who will deliver. And chances are, he may have long innings like our first Prime Minister Nehru, who called it a day while in office. Should that happen, Shakespeare, in all probability would repeat that ‘This was the noblest Indian of them all’ His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up, and say to all the world “This was a man”. Being Indians in love with our country, we wish NARENDRA MODI good health and long life in service of Mera Bharath Mahaan. With this hopefully the country and our countrymen can become better and richer. Let’s hope it happens. We at ISSUES&CONCERNS, wish Modi and his team God speed and all the very best.