Flawed Priorities

It is widely accepted that GDP growth cannot be a measure of a country’s development. Measuring development is very complex but there are certain accepted measures, one of them being Human Development Index (HDI). Human development Index combines three dimensions – A long and healthy life (Life expectancy at birth), Education Index (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), a decent standard of living (per capita GNI). India is ranked 134/187 in this index. Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Iran, Sri Lanka and Thailand are some of the countries that are ranked above India in this index.

If we look closely at the HDI of various states in India the findings are more shameful. If Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were independent countries, they would be ranked 5^th and 12^th in terms of population respectively & 148/187 and 161/187 respectively in HDI’s. Eight of India’s least developed states (BIMAROU states +Assam) constitute 47.62 % of India’s population with their combined HDI lying in the low HDI zone. I can safely say that India is an under-developed country.

India is a socialist country as mentioned in our constitution. It can be argued that the policies India have adopted since 1990s have been of capitalist nature but in truth those steps were means and not the end. The end was to generate sufficient income for the country, boost employment, and increase revenues of the government which could be utilized for development. Distributive justice is important component of socialism whereby government undertakes measures to tax the rich and spend on welfare of the poor.

But Indian spending priorities are flawed. While the ultra rich drive their SUVs on government subsidized Diesel, the government keeps financing the losses of Air India which has no utility for the poor. Spending Billions on enriching the infrastructure of metropolis and comparatively well off states has lead to more migration and unplanned urbanization which has created greater problems. Most of the developmental subjects (health, education etc) are in the state list but governments of the poor states have very less funds at their disposal. Further, expenditure from central quota is based on discretion of the central ministries which are mostly politically motivated.

In recent years, India has increased its defense spending. India has become a donor to some under-developed countries. India also organized the CWG games to showcase itself to the world. It can be argued that these spendings are of strategic concern. But the truth is – India chose these ahead of other pressing needs.

One half of India booms and other is under-developed. The priorities of the Indian development story are flawed.

Power crisis in Bihar

Let me present some data before I begin.

Population (million)
India                = 1210
Bihar               = 0103
Patna              = 0006
Rest of Bihar   = 0097

Total Installed capacity of Power generation (MW)
India                                                    = 172000
Bihar's share                                        = 001695
Actual supply                                       = 000677
Emergency services and Patna's share   = 000600
Rest of Bihar                                        = 000077

Per capita terms (MW/million)
India                       = 142.1
Bihar's share           = 016.5
Actual supply          = 006.5
Patna                      = 100.0
Rest of Bihar           = 000.8

India/ Rest of Bihar = 178

Right then, take a deep breath, drink some water or may be blur out the 'f' word. If you still can't digest it, see a doctor. Rest of Bihar (8% of India) is 178 times more deprived than an average Indian and you say we are backward.

Electrification is one thing but providing electricity a completely different one. Electricity is one of the most basic infrastructures required to start any business/industrial establishment and so no jobs, no growth, no development. I won't go on on this topic, we all are aware.

I will tell you an incident of Bhagalpur (3rd largest district in Bihar).

Some 8-10 years back, the power scenario was less than 1 hour per day for around 1 month or so. A group of people staged non-violent protest infront of the electricity department. The protesters were shut up in a warehouse and beaten up badly. The incident was widely reported and out of nowhere there was electricity for more than 12 hours the next day.

This March, same scenario, no electricity, no water. Without any prior announcement of bandh, an organised protest started all over the city at around 10 am. The two buildings of the electricity departments, 2 jeeps and 8 motor cycles were set ablaze by the violent mob. The aam aadmi supported the bandh. Administration was caught unprepared and could do nothing but watch. The incident was widely reported and out of nowhere there was electricity for more than 12 hours the next day.

Questions?

1. Where did the electricity suddenly come from ?
2. What precedent does "the sense of victory through undemocratic means" set forth ?
3. Why was the administration unable to sniff such widespread organised action coming up ?
4. Why the hell is 8 % of Indian population 178 times deprived ?

This answers one grave question though - "Why do the Biharis migrate to other states ?"