--- "Roy, Santanu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Xourav: > I did not have any specific process in mind when I > wrote that. > I want to pose the debate not just in terms of > positive and negative features (and which of these > are more serious) but the relationship between them. >
Santanu-da, I do not want the debate to be in these terms either, but the focus on the failures of economic reforms is an essential part of the feedback which all reforms should encompass. More of this below. > Let me say at the outset that this is not something > I clearly understand - like most of us, I only have > small pieces and clues, and being so far from the > country for so long makes me ill informed. > But I am sure we would all like to hear what people > think. Particularly, in the context of Assam. > 1. Are there certain aspects of the boom in certain > service and urban sectors of the Indian economy that > may actually be detrimental to economic growth and > poverty alleviation in Assam? In other words, is > there a potential conflict of interest? You should probably not ask non-economists trick questions :) Nevertheless this is my reply: No, I do not believe economics is a zero-sum game. But that does not mean conflicts never occur. The Narmada Bachao Andolan is a glaring example. Let alone Assam, the effect on the India poverty figures themselves seem controversial. http://www.wws.princeton.edu/rpds/downloads/deaton_kozel_datadogma.pdf Amidst all the statistical/data confusion, it is reasonable to assume that reforms have had negligible effect on poverty eradication. But the review mentions that vulnerable groups are worse off. The mango kernel deaths in Orissa, the Bt Cotton farmers' suicides, the child mortality in general and malnourishment in tribal areas of Maharastra etc. are (my) examples. So the conflict of interests you mention are not "potential" but already on display. As far as Assam is concerned, it has missed the 1990s reforms bus. This is not disputed. So I see very little value, from the Assam point of view, to keep harping on them. As I mentioned earlier, the focus on the failures form a feedback mechanism that can be used to drive some of the benefits of the reforms toward the less privileged. But there is an effective "gag order" against "emphasis of the negatives" which is why I posted my initially reaction to Dilip-da. > 2. Does the emerging economy in India create > implications for the political system that may > inhibit the role of the state in creating conditions > for economic growth in Assam and north east India? >From my perspective, it does. But the effect is not automatic, and it could go either way, depending on the way we act. I believe the state mechanisms have to be influenced one way or the other. Like Sanjib Baruah does when he emphasizes that India's look East policy has to be Northeast based. The problem in the northeast can be stated simply as this---the region has tried to open the state to local needs, and has tried various tactics, violence included, but has not found the right set of keys yet. There are some positives from the state. Jairam Ramesh, for instance, is looking at the problems afresh http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20jairam%20ramesh.htm The center is trying to negotiate with the ULFA. Etc. > ......questions such as these. > I realise you will be smiling as you read this. But > lets just say, its my turn to ask questions. > I have answered your questions. But you didn't answer mine :) xourov __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
