India a superpower: Can the common man feel it?
By siliconindia news bureau
Friday, 25 June 2010, 08:32 IST
Kolkata: India's economy is expected to reach double digit growth by 2013, but
is this growth story only for those living in cities and enjoying the benefits
of globalization, what do people in lowest rung of society think about it?
Though India's economy is growing pretty well, the other sectors in the country
are still lagging behind, reports Indrani Roy Mitra of Rediff.com. "India has
had 'great' industrial growth and 'economic' growth by the economic parameters
of gross domestic product, gross national product, et al; but has 'not grown'
at all in other sectors like health, education, quality of lives, nutrition,
newborn, childhood and infant mortality and infectious disease prevention among
others," says Amitrajit Saha, Public health specialist, who has worked with
marginalized people.
Lately, Price rise has been another major issue for the majority of citizens in
the country. "Growth to me suggests a better life for my kids. I thought I was
giving them one till recently. In the last couple of years, prices of essential
commodities have gone up alarmingly high throwing our monthly household budget
out of gear," says Shyamal Das, an autorickshaw owner-cum-driver.
There are others who feel that though India could afford to give its citizens
better healthcare, it has failed to do so. "A small percentage of our
expenditure on defence would have sufficed to provide basic healthcare to all
of our people. But look at our healthcare system. The government is fast
withdrawing from its responsibility to provide even primary healthcare to its
people free of cost or at a minimum expense," says Krishna Bandyopadhyay,
social activist and writer. She also points out that healthcare now has become
more and more privatised - a commodity affordable only for the rich or the
upper middle class. The poor are not even entitled to have good health.
"Can you find me a single politician today who actually feels for us, the poor?
Those who are sympathetic are strategically booted out of their parties or are
successfully sidelined," asks Subimal Ghosh, a grocery shopowner, whose dream
of becoming a doctor was shattered when his father fell ill and lost his job.
Ghosh had to take care of a family of four so he took loan from a friend and
set up a grocery shop close to his place and looking after his business now.
Are we spending too much on things that may not be very essential for the
common man? "There is no point in building a huge Army when almost half of the
country's population starves. If by growth, Indian politicians mean some inane
statistics, nothing can be more tragic. India will grow only when Indians, even
the poorest of them, get the best of healthcare, can send their children to
schools, can feed their families and can lead a comfortable life," says
Debasish Dutta, a teacher.
Ur's
M.K.
"making impossible possible".
--
___________________________________________________________________
Welcome to Maa Vee Maa Kaa Nanbargal valai Kuzhu (Friendship Group)!
This group is purely of the Youth,
by the Youth and
for the Youth.
Utilize this group to post your views & messages.
___________________________________________________________________
To post to this Maa Vee Maa Kaa group, send your emails to [email protected]
Regards,
Owner,
Maa Vee Maa Kaa.
