Economy
An approach to the Tenth Plan
THE Draft Approach Paper on the Tenth Plan (2002-07) has been released for public discussion. In one sense, it is a tenth approach to the Five Year Plan. But the problems of the country's economy are not new. They have been analysed threadbare over the y
ears. There is, indeed, very little that the Planning Commission can contribute new. At the same time, it has to be acknowledged that the Paper does bring together many suggestions which, if implemented, will make the Tenth Plan a purposive and effective
instrument for modernisation of the economy.
Vision 2020 -- Lure small enterprise to the villages
OUR maid in Delhi is illiterate but hardworking. Her services do not come cheap. Yet, in spite of working in half a dozen homes and her husband being a peon, she cannot afford a proper dwelling and has no option but to live in a slum. However, she does h
ave electricity in the house, a gas stove, refrigerator, TV and a telephone too.
Editorial
Palmed off?
THE MUCH-HYPED visit of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to Malaysia seems to have achieved little by way of positive result on the political agenda. On the economic front there is only some hope, despite perceived opportunities for both coun
tries to work together in such areas as infrastructure, information technology and agri-business.
Politics
PMO
A FURORE is raised from time to time against the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) poking its nose into proposals and activities of Ministries. Certain officials of the PMO have also become grist to the gossip mill following the tehelka.com st
ing.
`New BJP' and `new Left'
EVERYONE seems to be talking about a `new' this party or `new' that party these days, certainly in unintended emulation of Mr Tony Blair's New Labour movement in Britain which, incidentally, is up for the supreme test next month in the co
ming British general election. The point is, what is the substance of these claims? Is the `new Left' in West Bengal or the `new BJP' at the Centre something that reflects concrete developments at the respective party levels, implying a shift
in emphasis and perhaps, even in orientation of the party-ideologies concerned?
States
Tamil Nadu's economic agenda -- Time for `power'ful decisions
THE AIADMK is back in power in Tamil Nadu and Ms Jayalalitha has assumed charge as Chief Minister. When she gets down to business in the next few days, she will realise that she has a heavy agenda ahead of her as far as the State's finances are concerned
. Delaying decisions on issues affecting the financial health of the State will only push Tamil Nadu further into the morass. The problems are known, so are the solutions. But what is needed is the political will to implement the solutions. Will Ms Jayal
alitha have the will and the inclination to take tough decisions, ones in which even her own allies are bound to oppose her, not to mention the Opposition?
Water Management
For that precious drop of water
ROBERT CLARKE, in the preface to his book, Water, the International Crisis aptly states: ``Water is a life-giver par excellence. Besides coal, water is the most fundamental substance making life possible on our planet. While most resources have substitut
es, water fulfils a number of functions where there is no substitute''. The relevance of these words is felt more acutely in water-starved, drought-prone regions where even socio-economic functions revolve around this precious commodity.
