--- On Sun, 6/1/08, Vidyadhar Gadgil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> From: Vidyadhar Gadgil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
massive dams, public sector industries and
> a
> variety of infrastructure projects. There was very little
> questioning of the development process in those hopeful
> days. But
> subsequent evidence has shown that many of the projects
> were
> essentially white elephants. Furthermore, the costs and
> benefits
> were very inequitably distributed. The costs were paid by
> the
> poorest of the poor, including tribals and scheduled
> castes; the
> benefits were cornered by the elites and the middle
> classes.
----------------------------------------
And this ultimately is the crux of the matter. Whether it be roads, bridges,
dams, schools or nuclear deals, someone, somewhere in India can be convinced
that it is not in their best interests.
If we must talk about infrastructure developments that turned out to be "white
elephants", let's also talk about an India which for a good 60 years languished
under the yoke of socialism without proper roads in its metros let alone the
remote villages of its hinterlands. If we must talk about only an "elite and
middle-class" that has benefited, then let's also talk about a virtually,
non-existent middle-class until the dawn of liberalization. Let's talk about
the fact that today nearly 400 million people have come under the ambit of
middle class status. That is the entire population of the US and then some, and
about five times the population of the UK. Imagine a country like India that
started last in this race at the beginning of the last century is now punting
at the head. Could all this be achieved through superfluous development?
No dear Goans, please don't embrace this mantra of development having no end.
Not unless you want to be serving mocktails to tourists, washing dishes on
cruise ships or working in the Gulf for the rest of your lives.
selma
