NEW DELHI, 23 September 2003 — A World Bank report released yesterday serves as an eye-opener to why the poor remain largely poor in India, a nuclear power.
“Without major improvement in policy, most states in India will not be able to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which calls for halving global poverty and broad improvements in human development by 2015,” the World Development Report 2004 said.
Illustrating the “shoddy services” received by the poor, the report cited instance of a government-sponsored program in Andhra Pradesh, with the weaker section receiving only 500 rupees and 10 kg rice instead of 1,000 rupees and 15 kg for family planning operations.
Ironically, Andhra Pradesh has made big strides in the field of information technology and Hyderabad, its capital city, is known as Cyberabad. Selective planning directed at information technology has probably contributed to the government practically turning a blind eye to sufferings faced by the poor in the state.
Of the 350 million people in India living below the poverty line, many earn less than $1 a day. Out of 700 million people dependent on agriculture, over 500 are small and marginal farmers with holdings less than one hectare.
Farmers do not have any access to credit facilities, extension services, quality input of seeds, fertilizers or pesticides or irrigation facility for their land.
Even the electricity supply is irregular and costly. With the majority of farmers living in permanent indebtedness, thousands are forced to commit suicide every year.
Madhya Pradesh government’s recent decision to waive off electricity charges and supply power at highly subsidized rates to Dalits and tribespeople is another indicator of this lop-sided approach.
