This morning I read the following news despatched from Delhi and published in the International Herald Tribune, the Global edition of the New York Times of 19 May 2011. I feel it merits discussion and debate. World Bank urges sweeping change in India New Delhi By Heather Timmons India depends more on programs for the poor than most developing countries, but it has failed to eradicate poverty because of widespread corruption and faulty government administration, the World Bank said yesterday. India spends 2 percent of its gross domestic product, or $28.6 billion last year, on social programs to alleviate and prevent poverty, the World Bank said, a higher percentage than any other country in Asia and about three times China’s spending. These programs include food distribution, guaranteed employment and health insurance initiatives that are supposed to reach hundreds of millions of households. The report was written at the “request of the Government of India and with full participation from various government bodies, it said. The World Bank on Wednesday recommended a radical overhaul of India’s social systems. One of the primary problems, the World Bank said, is “leakages”- the stealing of money, food and benefits by government administrators and middle men. In India, 59 percent of the grain allotted to public distribution to the poor does not reach poor households, the World Bank said Wednesday. Instead of distributing food, the government might be better off giving out food stamps or cash transfers that can be easily traced, the World Bank said. -------- bhuban
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