Hi,
India land of culture and tradition. Below you will find some facts about India, my opinion and some concerns that I have regarding the unity of India and United States and the impact it could bring to our future. I hope this is going to bring some concerns in your mind as well.
According to the World Bank report, India has significantly improved the well being of its people which very noticable in the Indian cinema, television and news broadcasted today. A vibrant middle class has emerged with more spending power and a new generation of industrialists and entrepreneurs have begun to compete in the global market.
How does all this link to what I am trying to say? Well let see some numbers to understand my point of view:
Compared to 2000, India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), has shown tremendous increase in past few years. It rose from $457.4 billion in 2000 to $600.6 billion in 2003. This simply means that India’s population is producting more goods that it used to for consumption (probably). There can be many resons for this like better technology (major reason), education: more people are educated now than few years ago (statistics show that adult literacy rate in 2003 was 61.3% for population age 15 and above compared to 57.2 % in 2000), mortality rate (decreased from 123 in 1990 to 87 per 1000 in 2003) and so on.
According to the World Bank report one area that India is focusing for development is to increase Hydropower access in rural areas. They are targeting to provide rural areas with reliable electricity by 2012. Their goal is to input additional 100, 000 MW of generating capacity by 2012. At this time, they have 30% installed and only 25% are functioning at optimum. Well, what does this do to our economy? Given electricity to those rural, forbidden areas, we forcast it to prosper. Industrialization will be possible and cheap. This will inturn not only better our economy, but with increasing population and scarce of land, give people access to those areas for development.
India also targets to increase literacy rate at its peak by 2012. They have passed legislation to mandate children enrollment in elementary school. As a result of this policy, more children are enrolled and attending school. Overall number of out-of-school children fell from 25 million to 13.5 million exceeding the end-project target of 9 million. As I mentioned before, adult literacy rate has increased. And this kept children safe and out of streets.
Now back to my point for all this lecture:
I don’t understand why India is considering involving itself with United States for the nuclear accessiblity. But this would be breaking ties with Iran to make ties with United States. Iran who has been our allies for decades!!!
Sure we need United State for financial help to develop our country but we can not forget our past and follow the same path remember how the British entered India and the sufferings? Besides, why did U.S accept Pakistan’s help during the Iraq/Afghanistan war (about the air base deal)? I mean India offered them help voluntarily. Well they did not need us because they had Pakistan. Now they need India because they realise Pakistan is not going to help they have Bin Laden and their economy is shaking. Britian is out of the picture, so, we are the only ones to centre their dominance in that part of the world. They tried to ignite a war between India and Pakistan post 9-11?
So, we need their help to develop that is the first step. If we look at Rostow’s gives five stages of growth:1. traditional society that agriculture is playing dominant role, 2. the preconditions of takeoff i.e., having society mentally and physically prepared for changes, 3. the take off where a country is ready to move upwards, 4. the drive to maturity attain a certain minimal goal & 5. the age of high mass consumption that onces at optimum stage of production focus on other issues. Solow’s theory that states production is function of labor and capital and can be increased with technological development. Endogenous growth model that says that key to development is also keeping in mind the human development hence, education reinforcement. Every step that India has taken to develop into these modes and as a result we see development. But now, seems like we are getting into Santo’s structure of Dependence. Where we are depending on the dominant power and eventually we will be controlled by them.
The fact is ’’THERE IS NO SUCH THING LIKE FREE LUNCH’’! Do you think that U.S. is not going to intervene into internal affairs once we have the nuclear accessibility? (whatever the reason they say?.) Is it wise for India who is developing country to interfere with others affairs forgetting its benefit. There is ofcourse benefit for India in this deal but how much? Why hasn’t United States gone to other powers for help at this time? WHY US? WHY NOW?
Sure we use their resources accept their business in service sector but don’t we pay a price for it too? loans are not free money, they take interest?
Well, I am no scholar but had to make my point. I may have scatter myself in this lengthy opinion but I had to raise my opinion about the subject. I only wish I could voice to someone who can make a difference in the interest of our country. Anyways, Thankyou for reading please don’t forget to comment.
Thanks again
Cheers