Rural banking started since the establishment of banking sector in India. Rural Banks in those days mainly focused upon the agro sector. Regional rural banks penetrated every corner of the country and extended a helping hand in the growth process of the country. Today, branches are the primary delivery channel in rural areas. Though there are 32,000 commercial bank branches in India, they cover less than 7% of total villages. Opening more branches is not necessarily profitable as many pockets of rural areas do not have business enough to justify an expensive branch channel. Rural banking having committed 75% of their branches network to serving rural and semi-urban population, public sector banks have to adopt a financial emerging approach to rural banking.
Improve access in rural areas
To improve access in rural areas, banks need to modify existing channels, introduce new channels and identify innovative ways to integrate there are two ways---
1) Modify Existing Channels
Fortunately there are a variety of options available for banks looking to modify their existing channels. To reduce the costs imposed by branches, banks should consider the option of sharing their branch
Infrastructure. This would not be too dissimilar to the example of the
Telecom industry sharing network infrastructure or the fast food industry sharing food courts in urban areas.
2) Introduce New Channels
The RBI allows banks to appoint business correspondents and facilitators to be used as intermediaries in providing banking services. NGOs, MFIs, Societies, Section 25 companies, registered NBFCs not accepting public deposits, and Post Offices can be appointed as Business Correspondents. Business Correspondents can provide several services which are not currently offered by SHGs and MFIs, including:
(i) identification of borrowers and fitment of activities;
(ii) collection and preliminary processing of loan applications including verification of primary information/data;
(iii) creating awareness about savings and other products and education and advice on managing money and debt counseling;
(iv) processing and submission of applications to banks;
(v) promotion and nurturing Self Help Groups/Joint Liability Groups;
(vi) post-sanction monitoring;
(vii) monitoring and handholding of Self Help Groups/Joint Liability
SOME CHALLENGES BEFORE RURAL BANKING-
Challenges facing rural banking --The main challenges facing by banking are the role of financial instrumentation in different phases of the business cycle, the emerging compulsions of the new prudential norms and benchmarking the financial system against international standards and best practices. The need for introduction of new technology in the banking and the importance of skill building and intellectual capital formation in the banking industry are also equal important.
1) Financial intermediation Till recently the role of banks in the economy was perceived to be 'catalysts' of mobilizing resource requirement for growth. This view has undergone a change and banks are no longer viewed as passive mobilizer of funds, Efficiency in the financial intermediation is the ability of the financial institution to intermediate between savers and investors, to set economic prices for capital and allocate resources among completing demands is now emphasized. In the wake of the recent emphasized in the economy the intermediation role assumes even greater relevance. By virtue of their experience and superior credit assessment of the investment proposals banks should play a significant role in identifying nurturing growth impulse in the commodity and service producing sector in the economy.
2) Market discipline Transparency and disclosure norms are assuming greater importance in the emerging their notes to balance sheet. Efforts are on to set up a credit information bureau to collect and share information on borrowers and improve the credit appraisal of banks and financial institutions.
3) Adopting International Standards The fallout of Asian crisis and the impetus given to the strengthening of domestic financial systems has resulted in a more by the regulators to set up universally acceptable standards and codes for benchmarking financial systems. RBI has also set-up an advisory group to draw a road map for implementation of appropriate standards and codes in light of existing levels of compliance, cross country experience and the existing legal and institutional infrastructure. In view of the vast diversity in the size, an asset liability profiles of the banks it becomes very difficult for a few of them to meet the new benchmark of global standards. Each bank has to draw it own strategy to move towards this direction. 4)Technology Banking Innovation in technology and world-wide revolution in information and communication technology are perceived to be the catalyst of productivity growth. The relationship between IT and Banking is fundamentally symbiotic. It is expected to reduce costs, increase volumes and facilitate customized products. Technology adoption is a dire necessity for the public sector banks to complete with new generation private sector and foreign banks. It is a `compulsion' rather than a `choice'. Retention of existing customer is the primary concern of majority of the banks today.
The major challenge for banks is to fall in line with the emerging scenario and adopting the require technology to provide stake-of-the-art services to the customers. Introduction of on-line, inter-connected automatic teller machines (ATM), telephone banking, on-line bill payment and Internet banking are some of the high tech facilities. Banks have to provide in order to survive in the competitive scenario. Technology should ultimate results in better customer service, low cost and quick delivery.
The introduction of Business Correspondents may face some challenges from
* labor unions. However, Diamond believes that there may be some options to address the concerns of the current workforce while using Business Correspondents to capture more value from rural customers.
*. The lottery network and distributes government benefits. To increase the access of its services opened about 2.8 million new accounts and estimates that 40% of its banking transactions are handled through the banking correspondent channel.
* Satellite offices are a cost-effective alternative to branches. These
Offices can be established at fixed premises in villages and are controlled and operated from a base branch located at a block headquarters. All types of banking transactions may be conducted at these offices.
* Banks have, however, not used this channel actively, despite the argument that this channel is relatively less expensive, as it can draw personnel from the main branch and can remain open for just two days a week. This channel, therefore, is appropriate in blocks and districts which are densely populated. In the urban areas, most I banks opt for an extension counter where the business does not justify a full-fl edged branch.
* Similarly, satellite branches can cater to rural areas which do not justify a large branch. Where banks do not find it economical to open full-fl edged branches of satellite offices, mobile offices may be more appropriate. Mobile offices extend banking facilities through a well-protected truck or van. The mobile unit visits villages on specified days/ hours. The mobile office would be affiliated with a branch of the bank, and serve areas which have a large concentration of villages. This will not be dissimilar to the mobile ATMs implemented by some of the banks in the urban areas.
Determine the Combination of Channels
There is no one right channel or solution to improve access in rural
areas. Banks have to evaluate the trade-offs between those channels
Branches and Satellite Branches— In addition to providing regular
banking operations, providing backend support to manage and audit
the operations of business correspondents.
• A low-cost, custom-made ATM— Managed by a business
Correspondent to bring down the operating cost and scale the channel.
• An e-kiosk—Managed by a business correspondent with internet
banking, ATM and POS terminal in relatively large rural areas.
• A business correspondent—Using manual ledgers or POS/Palmtop to act as deposit collector and remitting agent in smaller rural areas
Financial System is the most important institutional and functional vehicle for economic transformation of any country. Banking sector is reckoned as a hub and barometer of the financial system. As a pillar of the economy, this sector plays a predominant role in the economic development of the country. The geographical pervasiveness of the bank coupled with the range and depth of their services make the system an indispensable medium in every day transactions. The virtual monopoly of banks in `Payment Mechanism' touches the lives of millions of people every day and every where. Thus the banking sector has been playing a significant role as growth facilitator.
The changing paradigm of Banking Change is the only constant factor in this dynamic world and banking is not an exception. The changes staring in the face of bankers relates to the fundamental way of banking-which is undergoing rapid transformation in the world of today, in response to the forces of completion productivity and efficiency of operations, reduced operating margins better asset/liability management, risk management, any time and any where banking. The major challenge faced by banks today is to protect the falling margins due to the impact of competition. Another significant impact of banks today is the technology issue. There is an imperative need for not mere technology up gradation but also its integration with the general way of functioning of banks to give them an edge in respect of services provided to optimizing the use of funds and building up MIS for decision making and better management of assets and liabilities and risk assumed which in turns have a direct impact on the balance sheet of banks as a whole. Word over, technology has demonstrated potential to change methods of selling marketing, advertising, designing, pricing and distributing financial products of an electronic, self-service product delivery channel. All these changes call for a new, more dynamic, aggressive and challenging work culture to meet the demands of customer relationships, product differentiation, brand values, reputation, corporate governance and regulatory prescriptions
Human resource development in banks --The core function of HRD in the banking industry is to facilitate performance improvement, measured not only in terms of certain financial indicators of operational efficiency but also in terms of quality of financial services provided. The skill level, attitude and knowledge of the personnel play an important role in determining the competitiveness of a bank. Banks have to understand that the capital and technology-considered to be the most important pillars of banking -are replicable, but not human capital, which needs to be viewed as a valuable resource for the achievement of competitive advantage. The primary concern of the bank should be to bring in proper integration of human resource management strategies with the business strategies. It should faster cohesive team work and create commitment to improve the efficiency of its human capital. More than operational skills today's banking call for these `soft skills' to attend the needs and requirement of the customers at the counter. The need to adopt global best practices to financial sector regulation and supervision and adopt them to the domestic environment, places a premium skills and expertise of the bank human resources.
Conclusions
The Indian banking industry is facing newer challenges in terms of narrowing spreads, new banking products and players and mergers and acquisitions. Adoption of risk management tools and new information technology is now no more a choice but a business compulsion. Technology product innovation, sophisticated risk management systems, generation of new income streams, Building business volumes and cost efficiency will be the key to success of the banks in the new era.
REFERENCES-
1)www.rediff.com Gujarat villages to bank on pocket-sized ATMs
2)www.emagister.in/banking_financial_services_courses
3) Dr. Sudhindra Bhat-Managing Challenges in Banking Industry
Monday, January 3, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
ગુજરાત અને ગ્રામ વિકાસ
આઝાદી પછી હિન્દુસ્તાનના છછ દાયકા સુધી કૃષિ ક્ષેત્ર અને ખેડૂતોની સમસ્યાનું સમાધાન કોઇ શોધી શકયા નથી ત્યારે ગુજરાતે આ બધી જ સમસ્યાનું સમાધાન લાવી આપ્યું છે. ર૧મી સદીમાં જમીન અને પાણી, આબોહવા અને પર્યાવરણની સ્થિતિ જોતાં ચીલાચાલુ ખેતી કે પશુપાલન પોષણક્ષમ બનવાના નથી એ હકીકત આધુનિક ખેતી માટે કિસાન શક્તિ-શ્રીમંત, સંપન્ન, પ્રયોગશીલ ખેડૂતો ઉપરાંત નાના-સિમાંત ખેડૂતો અને યુવા કિસાનોનું સશક્તિકરણ કરવાના વિશેષ પ્રયાસો હાથ ધર્યા છે, ગરીબ કિસાન પરિવારો પણ ખેતીમાં અને પશુપાલનમાં પગભર થયા.રાષ્ટ્રનો કૃષિ વિકાસ દર માંડ ૪ ટકાએ પહોંચ્યો છે ત્યારે ગુજરાતે ૧૦ ટકાનો કૃષિ વિકાસ દર હાંસલ કર્યો છે. રાજ્યના જુદા જુદા વિસ્તારોની ભૌગોલિક પરિસ્થિતિને ધ્યાનમાં રાખી કૃષિ, બાગાયત, ડેરી, પશુપાલન ક્ષેત્રે પરિણામલક્ષી કામગીરી હાથ ધરાઇ છે. હવે ભારતના તમામ કૃષિ નિષ્ણાંતો અને અર્થશાસ્ત્રીઓ ગુજરાતના પ્રયોગની પ્રસંશા કરતા અન્ય રાજ્યોને પણ પ્રેરિત કરવા લાગ્યા છે. ગુજરાતના કિસાનોએ ઉમંગભેર ચેતના જગાવી છે.તે બતાવે છે કે ગુજરાતના કિસાનો કૃષિ ક્ષેત્રે પરંપરાગત કૃષિ છોડીને પ્રગતિશીલ બની વૈજ્ઞાનિક ખેતીવાડી અને પશુપાલન અપનાવી સમૃદ્ધિના માર્ગે આગળ વધતા જ રહ્યા છે.
‘‘એક જમાનામાં ઉત્તમ ગણાતી ખેતીની એવી દુર્દશા કે ખેતી એટલે નબળા વર્ગનું કાર્ય બની ગયું પરંતુ ગુજરાતે ગ્રામ સમાજમાં ખેતી માટે એવી સામાજિક ક્રાંતિની ચેતના જગાવી કે આજે ગ્રામ યુવાશક્તિ કૃષિક્ષેત્રે પ્રશિક્ષણ મેળવવા સતત ઉત્સુક છે અને ખેતીને પ્રાથમિકતા આપે છે.’’
છેલ્લા પાંચ વર્ષમાં કૃષિ ઉત્પાદન રૂ. ૯૦૦૦ કરોડથી વધીને રૂ. ૪૮૦૦૦ કરોડ થયું છે એ કૃષિની સિદ્ધિ છે. કૃષિ વૈજ્ઞાનિકોના માર્ગદર્શનને કારણે આદિવાસી ખેડૂતો શાકભાજીની ખેતી કરી આર્થિક ઉપાર્જન મેળવે છે. વલસાડ જિલ્લો કારેલા, દુધી ક્ષેત્રે અગ્રેસર છે. ગ્રીડીંગ વેલ્યુએડિશન થકી ખેડૂતોને વધારે ફાયદો થયો છે.
ખેતી સાથે પશુપાલન પુરક વ્યવસાયે પણ ખેડૂતોને આર્થિક ક્ષેત્રે સદ્ધરતા બક્ષી છે. દક્ષિણ ગુજરાતના સાતેય જિલ્લામાં ખેતી-પશુપાલન ક્ષેત્રે અગ્રેસર છે આગામી
ગુજરાતમા છેલ્લાં એક દાયકામા જે વિકાસ થયો છે તેનાથી ઇઝરાયેલ ખુબ પ્રભાવિત છે. ખેતી અને ડેરી ઉદ્યોગ સિવાય સ્ટુડન્ટ એક્સ્ચેન્જ પ્રોગ્રામ અને સાંસ્કૃતિક અદાન પ્રદાન વિષય પર પણ ઇઝરાયેલ ગંભીરતા પૂર્વક વિચારી રહ્યં છે. ગુજરાતની જેમ જ ઇઝરાયેલમા પણ ડાયમન્ડ ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રીઝ મોટા પાયે વિક્સી છે. જેનાથી યહૂદીઓ અને ગુજરાતીઓ વારંવાર મળતા હોવાથી એક બીજાના ગાઢ પરિચયમા આવ્યા છે.
આગામી ૨૦૧૧ સુધીમાં ગુજરાતનો તમામ ક્ષેત્રે વિકાસ થાય અને પ્રત્યેક નાગરિક એ માટે કટિબધ્ધ થાય એટલું જ નહીં પોતાનું નાનુ મોટુ યોગદાન આપવા સંકલ્પબધ્ધ થાય ત્યારે જ ગુજરાત ખરા અર્થમાં ર્સ્વિણમ ગુજરાત બની રહેશે.
‘‘એક જમાનામાં ઉત્તમ ગણાતી ખેતીની એવી દુર્દશા કે ખેતી એટલે નબળા વર્ગનું કાર્ય બની ગયું પરંતુ ગુજરાતે ગ્રામ સમાજમાં ખેતી માટે એવી સામાજિક ક્રાંતિની ચેતના જગાવી કે આજે ગ્રામ યુવાશક્તિ કૃષિક્ષેત્રે પ્રશિક્ષણ મેળવવા સતત ઉત્સુક છે અને ખેતીને પ્રાથમિકતા આપે છે.’’
છેલ્લા પાંચ વર્ષમાં કૃષિ ઉત્પાદન રૂ. ૯૦૦૦ કરોડથી વધીને રૂ. ૪૮૦૦૦ કરોડ થયું છે એ કૃષિની સિદ્ધિ છે. કૃષિ વૈજ્ઞાનિકોના માર્ગદર્શનને કારણે આદિવાસી ખેડૂતો શાકભાજીની ખેતી કરી આર્થિક ઉપાર્જન મેળવે છે. વલસાડ જિલ્લો કારેલા, દુધી ક્ષેત્રે અગ્રેસર છે. ગ્રીડીંગ વેલ્યુએડિશન થકી ખેડૂતોને વધારે ફાયદો થયો છે.
ખેતી સાથે પશુપાલન પુરક વ્યવસાયે પણ ખેડૂતોને આર્થિક ક્ષેત્રે સદ્ધરતા બક્ષી છે. દક્ષિણ ગુજરાતના સાતેય જિલ્લામાં ખેતી-પશુપાલન ક્ષેત્રે અગ્રેસર છે આગામી
ગુજરાતમા છેલ્લાં એક દાયકામા જે વિકાસ થયો છે તેનાથી ઇઝરાયેલ ખુબ પ્રભાવિત છે. ખેતી અને ડેરી ઉદ્યોગ સિવાય સ્ટુડન્ટ એક્સ્ચેન્જ પ્રોગ્રામ અને સાંસ્કૃતિક અદાન પ્રદાન વિષય પર પણ ઇઝરાયેલ ગંભીરતા પૂર્વક વિચારી રહ્યં છે. ગુજરાતની જેમ જ ઇઝરાયેલમા પણ ડાયમન્ડ ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રીઝ મોટા પાયે વિક્સી છે. જેનાથી યહૂદીઓ અને ગુજરાતીઓ વારંવાર મળતા હોવાથી એક બીજાના ગાઢ પરિચયમા આવ્યા છે.
આગામી ૨૦૧૧ સુધીમાં ગુજરાતનો તમામ ક્ષેત્રે વિકાસ થાય અને પ્રત્યેક નાગરિક એ માટે કટિબધ્ધ થાય એટલું જ નહીં પોતાનું નાનુ મોટુ યોગદાન આપવા સંકલ્પબધ્ધ થાય ત્યારે જ ગુજરાત ખરા અર્થમાં ર્સ્વિણમ ગુજરાત બની રહેશે.
INFOMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE COMMEN PEOPLE
Common People is the main toiling part of the population who determines the group character and preserves its customs from one generation to the next. The common people do not include or consider the privileged strata of the population , as well as ruling classes, even if the latter do not formally have privileges. The people generally do not include the government. In Marxism, the people are considered to be the creator of history. By using the word "people", Marx did not gloss over the class differences, but united certain elements, capable of completing the revolution This paper attempts to define the common people of India in terms of levels of consumption and examines their socio-economic profile in different periods of time since the early 1990s with a view to assessing how the economic growth process has impacted on their lives. The findings should worry everyone. Despite high growth, more than three-fourths of Indians are poor and
vulnerable with a level of consumption not more than twice the official poverty line. This proportion of the population which can be categorized as the “common
people” is much higher among certain social groups, especially for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. There is also evidence to suggest that inequality is
widening between the common people and the better-off sections of society. The main findings of this paper shows
Economic growth taken as the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) is highly desirable in this context as it will establish the pre-eminence of the country in the world economy, provide a large market of goods and services, increase investment and technology development from all over the world and allow improvement in income and employment to the people, even though all sections of the the population are not evenly benefited not all regions are benefited evenly in the economy. It could also, with proper policies and facilities ,a substantial and rapid improvement in the living condi- tions, and promotion on the livelihood of the masses whom we consider the common people.
Economic growth alone, however, cannot ensure such an objective unless supplemented by other policies and complimentary measures targeted directly at promoting the welfare of the masses. The trickle-down effect of growth would be often too meager and too distant. Market forces almost invariably promote those who have market power and economic growth powered by them often bypasses the poor and the vulnerable who are the overwhelming majority o our people. Ultimately, the success and failure of all our programmes and polices including those for promoting economic growth, will have to be reckoned in terms of how they have fulfilled this basic objective of improving the welfare of the common people.
(1) to identify the group of people who can be considered the common people – who they are, what their profile is in terms of social groups, what level of consumption and employment they have, and what their endowments are in terms of education, housing, health, etc. In this paper an attempt has been made to define the so-called “common people” – or the “AAM ADAMI”in popular parlance – in terms o levels o consumption and examine their socio-economic profile in the different periods of time since the early 1990s with a view to assessing how the economic growth process has impacted on their lives. In this paper we present and discuss, after dealing with data and methodology, the main findings on the magnitudes and changes in the condition of the poor and vulnerable, whom we call the common people, as well as its links with social groups and their educational attainments. The household characteristics and consumption pattern of the households in different poverty status groups along with some concluding remarks are also included. While our analysis covers the three time points
(2) the time period is 1993-94, 1999-2000,and
2004-2005The years between 1993-94 and 2004-05 were the period of a high rate of economic growth in India. (3) The Indian economy entered a trajectory of high economic growth from 1980 onwards, compared with the previous nearly three decades. The period 1950-80 disparagingly reffered to as the years of “Hindu” rate of growth had an average rate of growth of 3.56 per cent or the entire period. The growth rate decreased from 3.91 in the 1950s to 3.70 percent in the 1960s and 3.08 per cent between 1970 and 1980. Although the so-called “Hindu” rate of growth from 1950 to 1980 was three times what we would like to call the “Colonial” rate of growth of the previous 30 years, the fact remains that during the first 30 years after India’s independence, the improvement in the per capita income was hardly between 1 and 1.95 per cent due to an increasing population growth that resulted from a decline in mortality. That is to say progress made on two fronts
– aggregate economic growth
- and reduction in mortality
As the growth rate picked up from 1980 onwards, there was a marked acceleration in the growth of per capita income contributed by the double blessing of increasing the growth rate and reducing the population growth. The aggregate economic growth rate accelerated
Further in the more recent period.1 While the growth performance in recent years has been spectacular, it is equally important to assess whether it has fully reflected in thje welfare the common people so as to allow us to evaluate the success of our growth performance in terms of the basic objective of improving the welfare of the vast masses of the people. This objective was explicitly set out in the policy of inclusive growth or increasing the welfare of the common people, of the United Progressive Alliance government, in contrast with the campaign about a “Shining India”, in 2004.
METHODOLOGY –
In order to evaluate the success OF our growth PERFORMANCE in terms of welfare of characteristics captured by the per capita consumption expenditure of our people, there are the datas worked on the sets available from the surveys of National Sample Survey organisations (NSSO) on employment-unemployment and consumption expenditure. The classification of each sample household as accordingly belonging to the “extremely poor”, “poor”, “marginal”, “vulnerable”, “middle income” and “high income” groups i the monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) o their households was below or above a specied multiple o the poverty line (PL).
Though there is considerable criticism about the determination o the poverty line in India, which systematically underestimates poverty and related deprivation, we have chosen not to engage in that debate here to avoid being defected rom the main thrust o our study. Our aim here is to construct a simple taxonomy and
identiy groups o people with signicant dier- ences in average level o consumption. The crite- ria or our classication, whether in the rural or urban areas, are given in Table 2.
The ocial estimates o poverty are computed by the Planning Commission rom the quinquennial consumer expenditure survey (CES). However, the analysis in this paper is based on consumption expenditure data as reported in the employment-unemployment survey (EUS) schedules to enable us to relate consumption expenditure status o the people to their work and activity status. In the case o theEUS, data on consumption are collected by using an abridged block in which some major items and item groups only are listed as against
CES in which consumption o each individual
item is separately collected. Thus, the average
consumption expenditure as computed rom
EUS schedule is expected to be lower than that
obtained romCE S schedule. The poverty lines,
determined on the basis oCE S thereore had to
be adjusted to make them conorm to the level o consumption expenditure as given by theEUS. This was done by estimating theMP CE rom the distribution o persons byM P C E classes based onEUS corresponding to the head count ratios obtained romCE S. The dierence between the two estimates is insignicant. For example, the ocial poverty line or 2004-05 is Rs 356.3 or rural areas and Rs 538.6 or urban areas. The poverty lines as applicable to data sets available rom theEUS, as per our calculation, turn out to be Rs 346.2 or rural areas and Rs 514.0 or urban areas.
vulnerable with a level of consumption not more than twice the official poverty line. This proportion of the population which can be categorized as the “common
people” is much higher among certain social groups, especially for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. There is also evidence to suggest that inequality is
widening between the common people and the better-off sections of society. The main findings of this paper shows
Economic growth taken as the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) is highly desirable in this context as it will establish the pre-eminence of the country in the world economy, provide a large market of goods and services, increase investment and technology development from all over the world and allow improvement in income and employment to the people, even though all sections of the the population are not evenly benefited not all regions are benefited evenly in the economy. It could also, with proper policies and facilities ,a substantial and rapid improvement in the living condi- tions, and promotion on the livelihood of the masses whom we consider the common people.
Economic growth alone, however, cannot ensure such an objective unless supplemented by other policies and complimentary measures targeted directly at promoting the welfare of the masses. The trickle-down effect of growth would be often too meager and too distant. Market forces almost invariably promote those who have market power and economic growth powered by them often bypasses the poor and the vulnerable who are the overwhelming majority o our people. Ultimately, the success and failure of all our programmes and polices including those for promoting economic growth, will have to be reckoned in terms of how they have fulfilled this basic objective of improving the welfare of the common people.
(1) to identify the group of people who can be considered the common people – who they are, what their profile is in terms of social groups, what level of consumption and employment they have, and what their endowments are in terms of education, housing, health, etc. In this paper an attempt has been made to define the so-called “common people” – or the “AAM ADAMI”in popular parlance – in terms o levels o consumption and examine their socio-economic profile in the different periods of time since the early 1990s with a view to assessing how the economic growth process has impacted on their lives. In this paper we present and discuss, after dealing with data and methodology, the main findings on the magnitudes and changes in the condition of the poor and vulnerable, whom we call the common people, as well as its links with social groups and their educational attainments. The household characteristics and consumption pattern of the households in different poverty status groups along with some concluding remarks are also included. While our analysis covers the three time points
(2) the time period is 1993-94, 1999-2000,and
2004-2005The years between 1993-94 and 2004-05 were the period of a high rate of economic growth in India. (3) The Indian economy entered a trajectory of high economic growth from 1980 onwards, compared with the previous nearly three decades. The period 1950-80 disparagingly reffered to as the years of “Hindu” rate of growth had an average rate of growth of 3.56 per cent or the entire period. The growth rate decreased from 3.91 in the 1950s to 3.70 percent in the 1960s and 3.08 per cent between 1970 and 1980. Although the so-called “Hindu” rate of growth from 1950 to 1980 was three times what we would like to call the “Colonial” rate of growth of the previous 30 years, the fact remains that during the first 30 years after India’s independence, the improvement in the per capita income was hardly between 1 and 1.95 per cent due to an increasing population growth that resulted from a decline in mortality. That is to say progress made on two fronts
– aggregate economic growth
- and reduction in mortality
As the growth rate picked up from 1980 onwards, there was a marked acceleration in the growth of per capita income contributed by the double blessing of increasing the growth rate and reducing the population growth. The aggregate economic growth rate accelerated
Further in the more recent period.1 While the growth performance in recent years has been spectacular, it is equally important to assess whether it has fully reflected in thje welfare the common people so as to allow us to evaluate the success of our growth performance in terms of the basic objective of improving the welfare of the vast masses of the people. This objective was explicitly set out in the policy of inclusive growth or increasing the welfare of the common people, of the United Progressive Alliance government, in contrast with the campaign about a “Shining India”, in 2004.
METHODOLOGY –
In order to evaluate the success OF our growth PERFORMANCE in terms of welfare of characteristics captured by the per capita consumption expenditure of our people, there are the datas worked on the sets available from the surveys of National Sample Survey organisations (NSSO) on employment-unemployment and consumption expenditure. The classification of each sample household as accordingly belonging to the “extremely poor”, “poor”, “marginal”, “vulnerable”, “middle income” and “high income” groups i the monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) o their households was below or above a specied multiple o the poverty line (PL).
Though there is considerable criticism about the determination o the poverty line in India, which systematically underestimates poverty and related deprivation, we have chosen not to engage in that debate here to avoid being defected rom the main thrust o our study. Our aim here is to construct a simple taxonomy and
identiy groups o people with signicant dier- ences in average level o consumption. The crite- ria or our classication, whether in the rural or urban areas, are given in Table 2.
The ocial estimates o poverty are computed by the Planning Commission rom the quinquennial consumer expenditure survey (CES). However, the analysis in this paper is based on consumption expenditure data as reported in the employment-unemployment survey (EUS) schedules to enable us to relate consumption expenditure status o the people to their work and activity status. In the case o theEUS, data on consumption are collected by using an abridged block in which some major items and item groups only are listed as against
CES in which consumption o each individual
item is separately collected. Thus, the average
consumption expenditure as computed rom
EUS schedule is expected to be lower than that
obtained romCE S schedule. The poverty lines,
determined on the basis oCE S thereore had to
be adjusted to make them conorm to the level o consumption expenditure as given by theEUS. This was done by estimating theMP CE rom the distribution o persons byM P C E classes based onEUS corresponding to the head count ratios obtained romCE S. The dierence between the two estimates is insignicant. For example, the ocial poverty line or 2004-05 is Rs 356.3 or rural areas and Rs 538.6 or urban areas. The poverty lines as applicable to data sets available rom theEUS, as per our calculation, turn out to be Rs 346.2 or rural areas and Rs 514.0 or urban areas.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
QUALITATIVE REFORMS IN HIGHER-EDUCATION
"There is an urgent need for replacement of bureaucratic controls in education by professional regulators along with private-public partnership to ensure universal primary education. Competition in tertiary and secondary education is also equally essential." (July 20-09-02 : TIMES OF INDIA) New reforms have already found place in HRD ministry's 100 day agenda. Instead of complete government control, the survey talks of rating the quality of educational institutions and all education service providers, both private and public. Government's higher education funds should be focused on promoting scientific and technical education and encouraging R&D in all subject Higher Education in India is seriously challenged. It is confronted with globalization even as it struggles to overcome the inadequacies created by colonial rule and to meet the demands of development. India acquired freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. In British India, access to school and university education was restricted. In contrast, the constitution of independent India promises schooling to all children up to the age of 14 and opportunities for further education to all. To honor this commitment, the university system inherited from the British is continuously being diversified and expanded. Reserved admissions and other facilities are provided to advance the education of castes and tribes, traditionally excluded from education. The British were indifferent to industrialization in India, and did not provide facilities for technical education at Indian universities. To support the country’s planned program of economic development through industrialization, technical education is now firmly promoted at Indian universities.
In addition, special national-level centers of excellence have been established to provide world-class education in engineering, technology, management, medicine, law, and other fields. This is complemented with a range of research institutions. Several bodies have been set up to monitor standards. As the government of a welfare state, the government of independent India takes responsibility for these provisions. The government’s share accounts for 90 percent of the total expenditure on higher education, up from an estimated 50 percent in British India.
There were three expectations from this investment:
1. Ample access
2. The manpower
3. The forefront of knowledge
1. Access
When India achieved independence, only a few thousand students were enrolled in higher education. Today, with 250 universities and approximately 8 million students, India has the world’s second-largest system of higher education.
Unfortunately, the students enrolled account for barely 6 percent of the population of the relevant age group. This figure is disturbingly low as compared to the countries of North America (60 to 70 percent) and Europe (40 to 60 percent), or the recently developed Asian Tigers (33 to 55 percent), with which India needs to compete as globalization advances. Despite the massive increase in student numbers, the fact that enrollment (as a percentage of the population of the relevant age group) remains poor in India illustrates how development is defeated by the phenomenal increase in the population of the country since independence—one billion according to the latest (2001) census, up from about 33 million in 1947. At the same time, it is important to recognize that enrollments in higher education suffer because of the slow progress in primary and secondary schooling. With great effort, the country recently achieved 100 percent school enrollment, but 40 percent of the children drop out before they complete primary school and only an estimated 20 percent complete high school. Although enrollment is inadequate by comparative standards, the growth in the demand for higher education has been unmanageably large, rapid, and pressing. The centers of excellence have been protected. But the universities that constitute the backbone of the system have been stretched, their standards of teaching and of evaluation compromised in order to accommodate demand. As a consequence, education at Indian universities has deteriorated into an examination-driven, certificate-oriented exercise. The faculties of the arts and the humanities, which account for 60 percent of the total enrollments in higher education in the country, have fared the worst. This is a cause for concern. While the demand keeps mounting, the government has recently admitted its inability to provide financial support on the scale required. At the same time, it is reluctant to accept privatization for fear that it will lead to commercialization and put students with limited means at a serious disadvantage. This is understandable, but it could well be that the government is unwilling to relinquish, or even share, the power that financial control over higher education brings.
As the government dithers, disorder grows. “Unrecognized” private institutions spring up and flourish. By using political leverage, they eventually get themselves recognized. As a consequence of the globalization of higher education, North American, European, and Australian universities provide degree courses through websites, distance education programs, or conventional instruction.
Some of these courses are of dubious quality. But nothing can be done as they lie outside the jurisdiction of regulatory bodies set up by the government. In any case, they do a brisk business, because dissatisfaction with universities runs high, because institutions that provide quality education are unable to meet the demand for admissions, and because there is blind faith in education coming from the developed nations.
2. The Manpower
In 1857, the British established in India the first three universities for European education. Simultaneously, as part of their policy of cultural colonization, they withdrew their support for indigenous learning and cut the colony off from traditions of higher learning dating back to the Brahmanical universities (1000 B.C.).
Subsequently, India depended on Europe and North America for knowledge and expertise in every field. Today, India has the world’s third-largest stock of technically and professionally trained manpower. The country has achieved impressive industrialization and modernization and even developed nuclear power. Professionals and technologists educated in India are respected and in demand all over the world.
There are other successes, too. But there is a measure of mismatch between the manpower produced and the country’s needs. The economy is unable to absorb all of this sophisticated work force, which has led many highly qualified Indians to emigrate. At the same time, positions in different fields remain unoccupied due to lack of suitably qualified personnel.
The system has been spectacularly successful in contributing to the industrialization and the modernization of the country, but it is unable to produce the manpower required to advance the traditional occupations, which account for the employment of nearly 80 percent of the population of the country. These occupations, deeply anchored in indigenous knowledge, range from forestry, fishing, agriculture, and related occupations to the manufacture of textiles, jewelry, and other handcrafted goods, the practice of medicine, the fine and performing arts, and a host of services.
It was hoped that these occupations would modernize as industrialization advanced, but this did not happen. Economists now warn that the growth of the Indian economy hinges on the advance of this sector, and higher education is challenged to pay special heed to its needs.
3. The forefront of knowledge
New Dilemma Meanwhile, globalization has generated a new dilemma. With the resources now available, the country must choose between two options.
It can promote advanced technical and professional education and research to be self-sufficient and to remain in the forefront of knowledge. Alternately, it can concentrate on providing a variety of vocational and technical courses to equip the population to take advantage of the employment opportunities that are generated as multinationals locate labor-intensive production processes in India.
The second alternative may create dependence, but it will enable many Indians to earn well. The challenge is to combine government funding with privatization, to build the resources required to accomplish both options, and optimize the country’s gains from globalization
Figure-1- EXAMPLE OF FISH-BONE DIGRAMME
Economic Survey 2008-09: Major reforms likely in education sector give first time clear direction about the kind of players who can enter the education sector. They range from non-profit registered societies to publicly listed education companies in all fields of education, subject to the regulatory framework which ensures quality and reasonable pricing.
The survey does not forget to emphasize the welfare side of the State by making it clear that education societies acquiring land at concessional rates or other assistance from the government should pass on the benefits to the student.
The survey also talks of streamlining the admission procedure to institutes of higher learning like IITs/IIMs without compromising the quality. "Intake should be based on entrance examination which tests the aptitude to grasp knowledge and not the knowledge itself," it says.
As for qualitative change, the survey says enrolment in various courses at all levels in universities/colleges was 11.61 million in 2006-07. Out of this, women students constituted 40.55%
Minister of UrbaDevelopment S Jaipal Reddy, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2007, organized jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Delhi Government, in New Delhi. He said,” India is a land of contradictions nd dichotomies and this extends to the area of education of Overseas We have the IITs and IIMs at one of the scale, and teacher-less schools at the other."
To correct these imbalances, India needs to strengthen linkages with its Diaspora. After independence, India emphasized developing centers of higher learning. The first IIT was started in Kharagpur in 1950 on the MIT model. India also retained English as a medium of instruction; this has contributed greatly to its economic growth, India's youth, comprising over 50 percent of its population, is referred to as its demographic dividend, the Minister said. To realize its potential, it needs to improve the quality of existing colleges, universities and technical institutes.
There are 367 universities and 18000 colleges with 11.2 million students on their rolls, and half a million teachers. India has to ensure that the children of NRIs, especially of those working in the Gulf, get a quality education. The Government has provided CBSE affiliation to 140 schools outside India, the National Institute of Distance Education has many study centers abroad and there are many schools in India affiliated to foreign boards. The government has also reserved 15 percent of seats in all technical colleges for NRIs' children. India needs to improve the quality of education so young people do not need to travel abroad to study. India has a large need for technical manpower, for which the education system needs to be expanded I propose to form a consortium to develop an Indian Humanities Foundation. Foreign Institutions, when they set up in India, should be complementary with the Indian education system and not compete with it, to strengthen what already exists in the country. The private sector is guided by social and philanthropic concerns in the education arena. We need more such ventures to provide affordable education. This would promote the study of humanities and social sciences that form the basis of sophisticated and enlightened leadership. Improving higher education means increasing the gross enrolment ratio from 10 percent to at least the world average of 23 percent, said Chairman of the University Grants Commission Sukhadeo Thorat.
Equity and inclusion to give access to higher education to deserving students regardless of their socio-economic status is another imperative. Colleges and universities need better funding to improve the quality of education because demand for higher education outstrips supply. He emphasized the role of the private sector .The Confederation of Indian Industry works to develop public-private partnerships on education through its network of corporate members. It’s Social and Development Council oversees these activities. Fund Specialist, Foundation and Community Funds Tertiary Education Commission, New Zealand, Pushpa Wood, said commitment from all stakeholders is critical to improving the quality of primary and secondary education. "We need to focus on learners' needs and constantly upgrade the skills of teachers." Further, she said research scholarships should be given at the primary and secondary levels and analytical skills should be taught at these levels. The government, Ms. Wood said, should profile all Indians abroad in education to involve them, conduct research, and evolve a risk management strategy. It should engage NRIs rather than just looking that them as money-bags. The government of India should create a mechanism to canalize the contributions of the Diaspora, said Secretary, Executive Board, UNESCO, A Parsuramen. "We need a task force that will develop and action plan set up a coordinating cell in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and finally, share the action plan with others to get a wider buy-in." Chancellor of the Velour Institute of Technologies G Vishwanathan, said, "We need to provide more and better higher education to reap the demographic dividend. For this, India needs to improve the availability, affordability and quality of high education. This can be achieved through liberalizing the education system, encouraging the migration of students from one state to another and providing more scholarships and loans to students from the poor and middle class."
Monday, March 8, 2010
rural women
Scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations in the 20th century fueled substantial gains in agricultural productivity in many developed
and developing countries. In each country, the successful local development of technologies or the transfer and adaptation of innovations from other countries will depend on incentives and barriers faced by investors and producers. Countries with
strong research, health, and education capacity will offer a supportive environment for technology investment science and technology can play a critical role in helping to prevent famine, improve nutrition, and move countries closer toward a goal of ending
world hunger. Education is important at all levels to support the development and transfer of science and technology.in research, there is a need for trained individuals to develop and implement regulations that affect technology use. Qualified people are also needed to represent their country’s interests in international negotiations. Decision-makers need the expertise to understand the positive and negative implications of their actions within the complex human and ecological environment
In extension activities the women is now the centre point and activities are being planned keeping her in view. Her enlightenment will change the face of rural India. Several programmes started at the National Centre for Women in Agriculture and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, are the right steps in this direction. This paper consider some important study and project and focus them perfectly.
Self help groups were made and took up income generating steps in home made products, dairy products, bakery products, tailoring/embroidery, goat/buffalo rearing and vermicomposting Innovative marketing outlets developed for Self help groups. Five components of AICRP on Home Science moved towards empowerment of rural women. There main achievements were Mobilization of self help groups and creation of learning environment Strengthening empowerment process Empowerment gains for women were assessed Cafeteria for women in agriculture was developed and offered to states to guide the development of new programmes for women in agriculture DARE/ICAR ANNUAL REPORT 2003–2004 174 harvest activities and livestock management were assessed. Under the project Identification and evaluation of interactive learning modules for dissemination of homestead technologies ergonomic assessment was carried out on the traditional and improved method of paddy parboiling procedures. During paddy parboiling using improved technology (paddy par boiling unit) the heart beat rate and energy expenditure were significantly reduced and the out put also increased from 35 kg per batch to 75kg per batch. The time duration of carrying out this activity also reduced from 2 days to 6 hours. Considering the significant utility of paddy parboiling unit, an interactive learning module is being developed on paddy parboiling unit, which will be useful for trainers in disseminating the technology. The project on Improvement in storage practices of seeds and grains of important crops with women perspective highlighted that begunia leaf (Vitex negundo) treatment of mung seeds is effective.
The research project of the National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture (NRCWA)
The conducted project has been functioning at Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, for developing methodologies, for identification of gender implications in farming systems approach and to develop women specific technologies under different production systems. There are 16 ongoing research projects in the areas of gender study on agriculture and household economy, management of coastal agro-eco system, extension methods for farm women, standardization of women specific field practices, occupational health hazards, reducing drudgery of women in agricultural operations, improvement of farming system suited to farm women, eco-friendly pest management technologies for vegetables among farm women, evaluation of interactive learning modules, technological needs in empowering women in rural aquaculture, and improvement in storage practices of seeds and grains. Under project on Development and testing of extension methods for farmwomen in eastern India, the extent of participation of farm women in different farming systems and farm enterprises and the role of change agents in that context, were studied. Contrary to the situation at coastal tract the male extension agents maintained higher contacts with farmwomen than the lady extension agent. The studies under Identification and improvement of farming systems suited to farmwomen in Eastern India project revealed that there is intense involvement of farmwomen in vegetable cultivation necessitating to take follow up supportive activities and interventions in the area of vermin composting, natural plant pesticides, biological control and IPM. Under the project Standardization of women specific field practices in rice in Orissa data were collected from women heads of 50 farm families on participation of women in relation to varying operations in rice cultivation. Women of family contributed highest hours per season (61.66) in harvesting and post harvesting operations and participated lowest in land preparation. Same pattern was observed from the paid women and total women (family + paid labor). Under project on Occupational health hazards of farm women in coastal Orissa the health hazards faced by women in household activities, farm activities, post Women in Agriculture The women is the backbone of agricultural workforce but worldwide her hard work has mostly been unpaid. She does the most tedious and back-breaking tasks in agriculture, animal husbandry and homes. The research efforts at the ICAR institutes have been tried to relieve her of the drudgery by providing time and labor saving tools. Vocational trainings are also being conducted, to impart skills to undertake different avocations. In extension activities the women is now the centre point and activities are being planned keeping her in view. Her enlightenment will change the face of rural India. Several programmes started at the National Centre for Women in Agriculture and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, are the right steps in this direction.
and developing countries. In each country, the successful local development of technologies or the transfer and adaptation of innovations from other countries will depend on incentives and barriers faced by investors and producers. Countries with
strong research, health, and education capacity will offer a supportive environment for technology investment science and technology can play a critical role in helping to prevent famine, improve nutrition, and move countries closer toward a goal of ending
world hunger. Education is important at all levels to support the development and transfer of science and technology.in research, there is a need for trained individuals to develop and implement regulations that affect technology use. Qualified people are also needed to represent their country’s interests in international negotiations. Decision-makers need the expertise to understand the positive and negative implications of their actions within the complex human and ecological environment
In extension activities the women is now the centre point and activities are being planned keeping her in view. Her enlightenment will change the face of rural India. Several programmes started at the National Centre for Women in Agriculture and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, are the right steps in this direction. This paper consider some important study and project and focus them perfectly.
Self help groups were made and took up income generating steps in home made products, dairy products, bakery products, tailoring/embroidery, goat/buffalo rearing and vermicomposting Innovative marketing outlets developed for Self help groups. Five components of AICRP on Home Science moved towards empowerment of rural women. There main achievements were Mobilization of self help groups and creation of learning environment Strengthening empowerment process Empowerment gains for women were assessed Cafeteria for women in agriculture was developed and offered to states to guide the development of new programmes for women in agriculture DARE/ICAR ANNUAL REPORT 2003–2004 174 harvest activities and livestock management were assessed. Under the project Identification and evaluation of interactive learning modules for dissemination of homestead technologies ergonomic assessment was carried out on the traditional and improved method of paddy parboiling procedures. During paddy parboiling using improved technology (paddy par boiling unit) the heart beat rate and energy expenditure were significantly reduced and the out put also increased from 35 kg per batch to 75kg per batch. The time duration of carrying out this activity also reduced from 2 days to 6 hours. Considering the significant utility of paddy parboiling unit, an interactive learning module is being developed on paddy parboiling unit, which will be useful for trainers in disseminating the technology. The project on Improvement in storage practices of seeds and grains of important crops with women perspective highlighted that begunia leaf (Vitex negundo) treatment of mung seeds is effective.
The research project of the National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture (NRCWA)
The conducted project has been functioning at Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, for developing methodologies, for identification of gender implications in farming systems approach and to develop women specific technologies under different production systems. There are 16 ongoing research projects in the areas of gender study on agriculture and household economy, management of coastal agro-eco system, extension methods for farm women, standardization of women specific field practices, occupational health hazards, reducing drudgery of women in agricultural operations, improvement of farming system suited to farm women, eco-friendly pest management technologies for vegetables among farm women, evaluation of interactive learning modules, technological needs in empowering women in rural aquaculture, and improvement in storage practices of seeds and grains. Under project on Development and testing of extension methods for farmwomen in eastern India, the extent of participation of farm women in different farming systems and farm enterprises and the role of change agents in that context, were studied. Contrary to the situation at coastal tract the male extension agents maintained higher contacts with farmwomen than the lady extension agent. The studies under Identification and improvement of farming systems suited to farmwomen in Eastern India project revealed that there is intense involvement of farmwomen in vegetable cultivation necessitating to take follow up supportive activities and interventions in the area of vermin composting, natural plant pesticides, biological control and IPM. Under the project Standardization of women specific field practices in rice in Orissa data were collected from women heads of 50 farm families on participation of women in relation to varying operations in rice cultivation. Women of family contributed highest hours per season (61.66) in harvesting and post harvesting operations and participated lowest in land preparation. Same pattern was observed from the paid women and total women (family + paid labor). Under project on Occupational health hazards of farm women in coastal Orissa the health hazards faced by women in household activities, farm activities, post Women in Agriculture The women is the backbone of agricultural workforce but worldwide her hard work has mostly been unpaid. She does the most tedious and back-breaking tasks in agriculture, animal husbandry and homes. The research efforts at the ICAR institutes have been tried to relieve her of the drudgery by providing time and labor saving tools. Vocational trainings are also being conducted, to impart skills to undertake different avocations. In extension activities the women is now the centre point and activities are being planned keeping her in view. Her enlightenment will change the face of rural India. Several programmes started at the National Centre for Women in Agriculture and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, are the right steps in this direction.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A step towards sustainable agriculture
To provide enough food and gainful; employment to increasing population is a big challenge before agricultural scientist. To feed such a large population we have to produce at least 205 mt extra food grains and have to double our present day milk, vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat production besides meeting their requirement for fuel, fiber, timber etc for clothing and housing. To primitive know-how of crop cultivation has been transformed into modern agriculture, through ages and it is still changing. And evolving according to the economics, social and environmental needs. It was aptly uttered by Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru ‘everything can wait but not the agriculture’. In the post green revolution era, imbalanced fertilization, excessive irrigation and indiscriminate use of pesticides have undermined the sustainability.
This step can be carry forwarded by equal participation of both the gender through timely and proper extension services. It is just because Development is biased in favor of areas having proximity to the urban corridors, which also attract the largest magnitude of investment flows. The remote hilly areas in the east and to the south have witnessed little growth of per capita income or employment matching the growing workforce. Regional imbalances are glaring and growing. The development gains have trickled down unevenly among rural and urban areas, developed and backward pockets and among scheduled and non scheduled sections of population. Some aspects of the phenomena of social retrogression are quite visible as can be seen from the discrepancies in some key demographic variables. Education and health care facilities face problems of delivery and access. The selective path of development being followed is bound to pose major impediments for the overall growth of the economy, so far as distributive justice is concerned. Under these circumstances, the optimal use of resources for realizing full potential of the economy requires a careful analysis of the economic structure in the long run perspective. The present paper highlights the need to usher in a development process that is equitable, sustainable, participative, stable and efficient- in divergence to the selective growth paradigm that has become the hallmark of the state’s development so far other forms of inequalities are manifest in the state. The development path followed by the state so far has led to reversal of the equalization process. The coefficient of variation in the incidence of rural poverty in 1993-94 between the geographical sub regions of Gujarat was 0.225; for urban poverty it was 0.157. The coefficient rose in 1999-00 to 0.258 (rural) and 0.245 (urban)
POST GREEN REVOLUTION PERIOD IN INDIA
India’s agriculture has been in decline in recent years and growing at a far slower pace than the overall economy. In 2006, it was forced to import grain for the first time in years, ringing alarm bells about food security. Some two-thirds of its population still live off agriculture, which grows about 3% a year. That is less than half the 8% economic expansion forecast by the government for the financial year to March2009.India needs a second Green Revolution to boost food supplies, or its 1.1 billion people will face huge social turmoil, the country’s top farm scientist has warned. Memories were still fresh of the Great Bengal Famine, the world’s worst-recorded food disaster, which occurred in 1943, when Britain governed India and an estimated four million people died of hunger.
Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, Rajya Sabha member and architect of the Green Revolution of the 1960s, which quadrupled food production and made India self-sufficient said
“What we need is political action — we need politicians to ‘walk the talk’,If we don’t succeed, we will face tremendous social problems, The government has identified agriculture as a key area for economic reform and called for changes to boost output of staples such as wheat, rice, pulses and vegetables and bring down soaring food prices there has been “no sign of major steps to make that happen”,
Swaminathan, a plant geneticist whose ideas helped transform India from a starving nation into a food exporter, runs the Chennai-based M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, which looks for ways to create new farm technologies. Policymakers globally now are grappling with how to tackle fast-rising food prices and dwindling stocks, with food riots erupting in some countries. Swaminathan won his doctorate in genetics from Britain’s Cambridge University, but turned down a US professorship when he realized he had studied to “produce enough food” in post-independence India and “serve the nation”.
Now a burgeoning population, a growing middle class with more purchasing power, and erratic weather are among factors creating food scarcity, thus pushing prices up and requiring a new agricultural leap forward, We need to take advantage of the existing technology bank. There’s a large amount of technology out there not being used — in efficient water use, efficient fertilizer use, in extension of farmer-to-farmer knowledge, For instance, nearly 70% of India’s farmers still depend on rain because of a lack of proper irrigation. Storage of food supplies is (still) a big issue, with many crops being devoured by rats before humans can eat them.
India faced a much tougher challenge in producing a second Green Revolution than it did in the 1960s, when too many hungry bellies forced it to live a “ship-to-mouth” existence, depending on US foodgrain imports to stave off famine. Gandhi gave Swaminathan free rein to implement a new agricultural programme, believing it vital for India to be able to feed itself.
“Politics is much more complicated these days There are referring to the unruly national coalition governments that are often at odds with state administrations The prime minister, who was then Indira Gandhi, had authority over the entire country to make sure decisions were implemented,.
“I’ve been trying for a pan-political approach to produce a second Green Revolution—after all we all have to eat first, “Crisis is a mother of invention. We faced a crisis in the 1960s and we succeeded.” Swaminathan said, adding he was optimistic India could achieve the goal.
This step can be carry forwarded by equal participation of both the gender through timely and proper extension services. It is just because Development is biased in favor of areas having proximity to the urban corridors, which also attract the largest magnitude of investment flows. The remote hilly areas in the east and to the south have witnessed little growth of per capita income or employment matching the growing workforce. Regional imbalances are glaring and growing. The development gains have trickled down unevenly among rural and urban areas, developed and backward pockets and among scheduled and non scheduled sections of population. Some aspects of the phenomena of social retrogression are quite visible as can be seen from the discrepancies in some key demographic variables. Education and health care facilities face problems of delivery and access. The selective path of development being followed is bound to pose major impediments for the overall growth of the economy, so far as distributive justice is concerned. Under these circumstances, the optimal use of resources for realizing full potential of the economy requires a careful analysis of the economic structure in the long run perspective. The present paper highlights the need to usher in a development process that is equitable, sustainable, participative, stable and efficient- in divergence to the selective growth paradigm that has become the hallmark of the state’s development so far other forms of inequalities are manifest in the state. The development path followed by the state so far has led to reversal of the equalization process. The coefficient of variation in the incidence of rural poverty in 1993-94 between the geographical sub regions of Gujarat was 0.225; for urban poverty it was 0.157. The coefficient rose in 1999-00 to 0.258 (rural) and 0.245 (urban)
POST GREEN REVOLUTION PERIOD IN INDIA
India’s agriculture has been in decline in recent years and growing at a far slower pace than the overall economy. In 2006, it was forced to import grain for the first time in years, ringing alarm bells about food security. Some two-thirds of its population still live off agriculture, which grows about 3% a year. That is less than half the 8% economic expansion forecast by the government for the financial year to March2009.India needs a second Green Revolution to boost food supplies, or its 1.1 billion people will face huge social turmoil, the country’s top farm scientist has warned. Memories were still fresh of the Great Bengal Famine, the world’s worst-recorded food disaster, which occurred in 1943, when Britain governed India and an estimated four million people died of hunger.
Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, Rajya Sabha member and architect of the Green Revolution of the 1960s, which quadrupled food production and made India self-sufficient said
“What we need is political action — we need politicians to ‘walk the talk’,If we don’t succeed, we will face tremendous social problems, The government has identified agriculture as a key area for economic reform and called for changes to boost output of staples such as wheat, rice, pulses and vegetables and bring down soaring food prices there has been “no sign of major steps to make that happen”,
Swaminathan, a plant geneticist whose ideas helped transform India from a starving nation into a food exporter, runs the Chennai-based M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, which looks for ways to create new farm technologies. Policymakers globally now are grappling with how to tackle fast-rising food prices and dwindling stocks, with food riots erupting in some countries. Swaminathan won his doctorate in genetics from Britain’s Cambridge University, but turned down a US professorship when he realized he had studied to “produce enough food” in post-independence India and “serve the nation”.
Now a burgeoning population, a growing middle class with more purchasing power, and erratic weather are among factors creating food scarcity, thus pushing prices up and requiring a new agricultural leap forward, We need to take advantage of the existing technology bank. There’s a large amount of technology out there not being used — in efficient water use, efficient fertilizer use, in extension of farmer-to-farmer knowledge, For instance, nearly 70% of India’s farmers still depend on rain because of a lack of proper irrigation. Storage of food supplies is (still) a big issue, with many crops being devoured by rats before humans can eat them.
India faced a much tougher challenge in producing a second Green Revolution than it did in the 1960s, when too many hungry bellies forced it to live a “ship-to-mouth” existence, depending on US foodgrain imports to stave off famine. Gandhi gave Swaminathan free rein to implement a new agricultural programme, believing it vital for India to be able to feed itself.
“Politics is much more complicated these days There are referring to the unruly national coalition governments that are often at odds with state administrations The prime minister, who was then Indira Gandhi, had authority over the entire country to make sure decisions were implemented,.
“I’ve been trying for a pan-political approach to produce a second Green Revolution—after all we all have to eat first, “Crisis is a mother of invention. We faced a crisis in the 1960s and we succeeded.” Swaminathan said, adding he was optimistic India could achieve the goal.
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