Approaching equity - Indiagovernance.gov.in

Overall, the case for market-led growth should notgo unquestioned. Our process has sought to analyse whatmakes a “people’s Plan” authentic. If the core developmentobjective is to better the lot and brighten the prospects ofthe common citizen, it must be argued that the nationalresolve should be for markets to serve and secure the hopesand happiness of the people rather than for the people –and the use of their energies and talents – to be geared tobenefit the market. The seedbeds of a prosperous republic,which deserve recognition rather than replacement inIndia’s quest for genuine growth, are the little economies ofneighbourhoods and communities that draw upon local skillsand resources and cater to local requirements. This does notat all imply shutting the door on access to new technologiesand products. We believe that advocating privatisationof resources will lead to the further marginalisation anddisempowerment of large sections of society.With the utilisation of this livelihood approach, wetherefore reiterate that people own and have a right tothe commons and common resources – and to chart theirown course towards a destination of holistic developmenttrue to the country’s ideals. By this, we mean for examplethat planning should be livelihood-based, people-centric,pro-poor, and owned by the people themselves, as this inturn warrants that any developmental scheme and plan isenvironmentally sustainable.It is regularly argued – and explained – that a Five-YearPlan is an economic plan, about intentions to spend. If theseare its confines, India’s planners must reveal the ideologyand the development manifesto to which it relates. It is inthis endeavour that the voluntary sector and civil societyhave the responsibility to seek, and find, and understandwhat the people really aspire for – and to strive to make ita reality.These are for us the key principles for our inputs.We believe that respect for them will facilitate and builda prosperous India while simultaneously securing redistributive,economic and social justice. This will furtherresult in “growth” for all rather than for a select few. In orderto ensure this, the forthcoming Approach Paper to the 12 thFive-Year Plan needs to address the following key concernsand recommendations:1. GDP growth alone as a goal of planning is rejectedby all the civil society groups. We suggest insteadthat a comprehensive real-time database on themarginalisation of and violence against the poor andvulnerable must first be created in order to enablemore realistic and just planning.2. This database should be analysed to identify alllivelihood generation possibilities that are peoplecentredand, therefore, require minimal investments,and will, in turn, contribute to national prosperityrather than waiting endlessly for growth at the top totrickle down to the bottom.3. Another key concern that has been expressed by diversegroups, namely the Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, peopleliving with HIV, people with disability, transgenders,the elderly, the youth and, especially, women andchildren, is to provide access to essential entitlementsand development opportunities to the marginalised.To achieve this, they suggest that the governmentshould increase investments in public services such ashealth, education, skill development, training andin infrastructure building instead of curtailing themin favour of private parties, which will only result inthe further alienation of the marginalised sections.4. Investments for the poor should be increased andprogrammes like the Public Distribution System,Mahatma Gandhi National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Scheme, Swarn Jayanti Gram SwarozgarYojana, Swarn Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana etcshould be strengthened and broadened to include alsoforthcoming governmental programmes, such as theNational Livelihoods Mission.5. A persistent problem for the poor in this country isthe lack of access to institutional financial services ingeneral and cheap credit in particular. Special stepsneed to be taken to make cheap credit and otherfinancial services available to the poor who are atpresent largely unbanked.6. Transparency, accountability, and monitoring have toincrease and mechanisms for people’s participation inmonitoring should be established. We believe that thisis the only way in which public services can ensuredelivery, as financial allocations alone will not be ableto achieve this due to rampant corruption.7. Laws should be strictly followed, especially labourlaws, and protection laws enacted for children, Dalits,Adivasis, women, people with disability, and Muslims.Violence and atrocities against these vulnerablesections is a key cause of concern, especially in areasof conflict and where the state machinery has failedmiserably to prevent this.8. Displacement and environmental damage, includingthe looming climate change crisis caused by projects,especially mining, are a major concern and a key cause9