Inclusive Growth in India Dream or Reality?

The subject of inclusive growth has been in the spotlight recently for obvious reasons. After three centuries of relative and often absolute poverty, India has in recent decades begun to return to its previous position as a global economic power. The Parliamentary election campaign of 2004, with its ‘India shining’ vs ‘Aam Admi’ slogan campaign highlighted an apparently widespread perception that the benefits of economic growth were simply passing to many people. While many challenges remain, the challenge of making India’s economic growth more inclusive by reducing entrenched poverty i.e., to the marginalized groups is a principle challenge. It is well known that the poor and the under-privileged sections of Indian society including the OBCS, SCs and STs are lagging behind in education. Literacy is arguably the most significant factor in poverty reduction as is enhances employability. India as an emerging economy wedded to the policy of Welfare State has been adopting and harnessing ICT for inclusive growth through diverse policies and programmes. However, the inherent socio-cultural milieu and demographic constraints that have been the bane of development process in India, is assumed to have come in the way of successful implementation of theses ameliorative schemes. The so called ‘digital divide’ that get accentuated by the preponderance of “haves” and “have-nots”, lack of ICT infrastructure in far flung and remote rural areas, hesitation among the masses in adoption of new technology coupled with aspiration deficit, have rendered these schemes exclusive, rather than inclusive. This paper seeks to examine India’s record on inclusive growth.