“India’s quest for growth with social justice has met with mixed results. The economy has grown at unpre-cedented rates. There was significant diversification in industrial output and employment. Per capita real incomes have nearly trebled, and living standards and lifestyles have visibly transformed. Yet there is much discontent and social unrest. The future outlook is uncertain because of domestic resource and political constraints as also due to global uncertainties. There are restrictions on access to technology and migration and unabated environmental degradation.”
This is an abstract of a comprehensive lecture delivered on the MIDS Founder’s Day by Dr. A Vaidyanathan (AV), on Pursuit of Sustainable and Equitable Growth in the Era of Globalisation: An Indian Perspective. AV was a former director and member of the board of trustees and the governing council of the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), as also a former member of the Planning Commission.
In his comprehensive address, AV pointed to the lessons offered by China.
“Within a remarkably short time, the Chinese set up several universities to offer world-class higher education in several branches of science, technology and engineering. They set up institutions for specific research and development of technology for different sectors. In doing so, they drew on the expertise of the Chinese diaspora, teaching and researching in premier institutions of America and Europe. What is remarkable is the way the state supported the implementation of the strategy negotiating with foreign governments, corporations, research institutions and agencies responsible for formulating development policy.
“The Chinese experience underscores the crucial role of proactive state policy for mastering available techno-logy and innovating new ones without depending on developed countries. Why it succeeded so well in China and why India continues to be dependent on imported know-how calls for serious reflection.”
