The Hindu : Governance can make all the difference: Amartya Sen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 11, 2003

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National

Governance can make all the difference: Amartya Sen

By Lakshmi Balakrishnan

NEW DELHI JAN.10. It was time for a reality check on the economics of life. Lectures on Indian economy are obviously not new to Delhi University, but Friday morning was different.

For, it brought together Nobel laureate, Amartya Sen, and his ``subjects'' on the same platform.

It was meant to be a ``jan sunwai'' — public hearing — on man's most basic need. And ``Living with hunger: A public hearing on the right to food'' did more than just present the expert views of Prof. Sen and provide glimpses of the battle against starvation being waged by people across the country.

While Prof. Sen spoke on ``Hunger in India'', it was his answers to questions that had the visiting farmers in awe for his understanding of their problem.

``I don't think it is a question of economics, but of public policy. There is need for more explicit analysis of the effects of public policies on different classes, particularly the extreme underdogs of society. Good governance can make all the difference.''

Attended by university teachers, students and farmers representing 47 non-government organisations from across the country, the event saw government representation too.

Not all villagers may believe that a public forum can help solve their problems, but being heard itself was clearly a big enough achievement for many.

``Coming here, speaking about the issue of starvation deaths and listening to the testimonies of others has helped us make our point. Being heard in Delhi itself is half the battle won,'' said Kailashi Devi, who came along with a Rajasthan-based NGO.

But for every ray of hope offered here, there was perhaps a story left unheard.

A group of farmers from Hapur was not amused at not being heard.

And such was their anger that they did not mind running down the entire initiative.

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