Scribd
Upload
63 views12 pages

LPG & Human Security

This document summarizes a paper presented on human security attitudes in India. It discusses the relationship between democracy and poverty, analyzing India's human development indicators and the impact of economic reforms. While most people support greater state involvement in the economy over privatization, economic policies have moved in the opposite direction. There is a disconnect between subjective perceptions and objective conditions. The document raises questions about whose views - elite or masses - should prevail in a democracy, and whether two irreconcilable Indias may be emerging.

Uploaded by

poetmba
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
63 views12 pages

LPG & Human Security

This document summarizes a paper presented on human security attitudes in India. It discusses the relationship between democracy and poverty, analyzing India's human development indicators and the impact of economic reforms. While most people support greater state involvement in the economy over privatization, economic policies have moved in the opposite direction. There is a disconnect between subjective perceptions and objective conditions. The document raises questions about whose views - elite or masses - should prevail in a democracy, and whether two irreconcilable Indias may be emerging.

Uploaded by

poetmba
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

Attitudinal data on human security in India: Complicating the discussion on freedom from want.

[SDSA data set 2005]


Peter Ronald deSouza
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi. NTS Inaugural Meeting, Singapore 8-9 Jan 2007. Organized by IDSS, NTU Singapore.

The big Question: What is the relationship between Democracy and poverty?
Sen - There are no famines in democracies. But what about persistent and pervasive hunger and malnutrition? Zakaria Using the study of Przerworski and Limongi he writes it is calculated that in a democratic country that has a per capita income of under $1500 (in todays dollars) the regime has a life expectancy of just eight years. With between $1500 and $3000 it survived on an average for about eighteen years. Above $6000 it became highly resilient. (p69) Is India a resilient democracy? What does mass democracy do to widespread poverty?

Indias Human Development Indicators (Source HDR 2006).


Life expectancy at birth: .. 63.6 Adult literacy rate 2004: .. 61. Combined gross school enrolment ratio: . 62. GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2004: . 3139. Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live birth): . 62 Prevalence of T.B (per 1 lakh popln): 312. Undernourished ratio: . 20. Popln living under $1 a day: . 34.7 Access to improved sanitation: urban 15 rural. 61 HDI Rank: 126

Liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG) in India since 1990s.


Fiscal and economic reforms resulting in impressive inflow of FII, FDI and growing role of MNCs in economy. M&As. Considerable dilution of MRTP. Booming private sector esp. IT and Pharma with investments overseas. Opening up of natural resources to Foreign investment. Decrease in role of public sector in core areas such as telecoms, air travel, steel, defense production, etc. Growth of private players in services such as electricity production and distribution, health services, education, etc. Setting up of SEZs. Growth of big international players in retailing. Entry of corporates in agriculture. Decline in power of labour movement. 1990-2003 growth 5.9% (Source World Bank Report 2005). Poverty Ratio (1990s --- 38.9%) in (2000 --- 26.1%).

Major political events and processes of the last few years.


Farmers suicides because of indebtedness (in thousands) Huge protests against natural resource policy in Orissa, (Kalinganagar) Jharkhand (peoples curfew), and Chattisgarh. Widespread public outcry against SEZs. Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, U.P, Goa. Major population migrations to urban centres. Demolition of slums for beautification of cities. Increased naxalite insurgency with concomitant increase in CSA. Highly competitive party system and coalition governments at the Centre and in many states. Judicial activism.

But how do the People perceive their own situation under LPG.
On a 10 pt scale from poor to rich 92% placed themselves in the bottom half of the scale. (64% bottom 3 rungs)
63% felt that household income does not cover needs and that there are (great) difficulties. But only 28% (very) dissatisfied with their household economic condition. And only 18% felt that their household economic condition had become (much) worse compared to past. And only 9% felt that their household economic condition would become (much) worse in the future.

How do the People perceive the countrys situation under LPG.


53% (very) satisfied with economic condition of country. 66% feel economic condition has become (much) better compared to few years ago. 74% feel that economic condition of country will become better. Is this support for LPG? Is it illustrative of Gramscian hegemony or more cynically of Moscas political formula?

Peoples attitudes to LPG policies.


84% disapprove of privatization of public sector. 70% feel govt. employees should not be reduced. 85% feel supply of electricity should be by public as against private sector. 83% feel hospital services should be by public as against private sector. 81% feel schools should be by public as against private sector. 72% feel bus services should be by public as against private sector. 63% support a ceiling on income and wealth to reduce differences between rich and poor. 62% oppose entry of foreign companies because they exploit us. Is this overwhelming support for the Nehruvian state?

Disjunction between public attitudes and government policy.


Public preference for greater role of state in economic activity whereas economic policies moving in opposite direction. In a democracy whose views are to prevail elite or mass? Do the elite know better? Mismatch between subjective perceptions and objective economic conditions. (ref HDI). Is there a low threshold of expectation and satisfaction? Increasing optimism of future (result of LPG) but want Nehruvian state (anti-LPG). How are these to be reconciled?

New probings: State of the Nation survey (CSDS_CNN_IBN- Jan 2007).


Questions on SEZ. Questions on Farmers suicides. Questions on ICDS. Questions on government hospitals. Questions on migration abroad. Employment preference Govt or Pvt sector. Questions on household econ condition.

Democracy and human security.


Growing underclass. Two sections among the poor, those moving upward and those moving downwards. Democracy and LPG results in both trickle down and sucking up. We need to think about the sizeable underclass. Under liberalization the state must commit itself to welfarist policies as core principle not simply as strategic calculus. e.g. NREGS, RTI. Global culture of consumption has the impact of depoliticizing the middle classes. While there is elite capture of state there are also.. two Indias, with irreconcilable interests, emerging?

Thank you

You might also like