Inclusive development

The government has to stress more on policies related to collective inclusive growth (“

>Development as a people’s movement ,” Dec.1). The 12th Five Year Plan aims at faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth, and the 72nd and 73rd Amendments speak of decentralised panchayats and gram sabhas. Decentralisation will help local people, solve problems such as disguised employment, revive handicrafts and small-scale industries, and give more bargaining power to local populations. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act should focus on unemployment due to agricultural activities and provide more jobs for women. ‘Make in India’ should also focus on fixing the right prices for forest produce and handicrafts and provide a market for them. Micro Small and Medium Enterprises should be developed as they are labour-intensive. Policies framed for inclusive growth are ideal postulates, but theiractual implementation is a matter of concern. Thus, auditing these policies is important.

Ashutosh Dalal,

New Delhi

As rightly pointed out by the writer, we need to redefine our concept of development. Development is not only about GDP or economic growth rate. Development should also be seen through a cultural lens. India could also think of adopting the Gross National Happiness Index, for only when masses are happy can we say we are developed.

Mohan Gaikwad,

New Delhi