Dear All
Dr
Amartya Sen has proved again to be an Argumentative
Indian.
You
should read the sixteen essays written by Dr Sen on the historical and
political landscape of India’s argumentative tradition, where, he concludes
that arguments are vital for the success of India’s democracy and politics. { Ref Amartya Sen: Argumentative Indian:
Writing on Indian History, Culture and
identity } May be it is for us to keep up this tradition that he made
national headlines yesterday. The Nobel laureate was not only critical of
Narendra Modi’s model of governance but also made public his non acceptance of
Modi , even as a Prime Ministerial candidate.
As
a developmental economist of International acclaim with a leftist lineage, Dr Sen has always had
his own critics on evaluating development in an economy. There are two sets of
developmental economists. The first ones mainly the capitalist class, looks
into the general increase in money supply in the economy and the resultant
availability of capital for growth. It is this lot which measures the data on
infrastructure development, banking and other macroeconomic indicators ,while
the economists of leftist linage- to which Dr Sen belong to -focuses on social sector development, mainly on education
,health , poverty, freedom, human rights etc. When we analyse and give a value judgement on how good
a state’s economy has performed we will always have economists and politicians
who cherry picks data and interprets them. Accordingly for the leftist
economists, the Kerala model of development may be far better than a Gujarat
Model.
The
Kerala model which was claimed to have created an egalitarian society with
universal education and health care proved to be a misnomer. While education
did result in skill development, there was no capital available for utilization
of the same resulting in unemployment and skill migration. The Kerala economic
development model has only resulted in creation of a money order economy with a
dearth of capital, entrepreneurship and policy not to mention of left wing
trade unionism. In the health front too while leftists economists talks about
well ness indices of Kerala State, its tribal
region of Attapadi recorded nearly fifty child deaths in this year due to
malnutrition . On the other hand Gujarat Model which focussed on capital and
investment resulted in better roads, power and other infrastructure facilities
making it the fastest growing state with no power failures. It increased employment
opportunities not only to people of the states but also resulted in migration
to the state for employment. On the education and health care front Dr Sen is
right on pointing figures at Gujarat, because quality and standards of its
health and education delivery system is dismal and needs change. While public
distribution system is better than other states, capital percolation in health
care and education has created more hospitals, schools and colleges but with
low quality doctors and teachers. Most of the capital flows in education has
come from the private sector but they have not been able to attract the best
talent. It is often heard that school teachers themselves does not have the
requisite knowledge and skill with cases of senior students engaged in teaching
their juniors.
In
such a contradicting scenario we cannot portray a state to have achieved or not
have achieved any form of universal growth but growth need to be evaluated in
the context of the indices of under discussion. Cheery picking economic growth
numbers will never give a clear picture but can only add to political rhetoric.
Well
whether Dr Sen accepts Mr Modi or not is his choice but he indeed has thrown
open a debate prelude to election and hence proved to be a responsible and
argumentative Indian.
Sanyasi
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