Dt: 1/2/19
We Feed; You Breed:
State Borrows: A Few Become Opulent
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
In all the discourses about poverty alleviation, minimum income guarantee, employment creation and inequality reduction, two most important factors are not even mentioned. These are unchecked growth among those sections of population to whom every politicians is promising some money transfer and why jobs for all cannot be created.
2. India’s total population increased from 380 mln in 1951 to over 1300 mln by now. The increase has been about 18 mln per year since the 1980s. Is it ever possible to create gainful work for so many every year ? There is no growth; indeed there is decline in the proportion of the forward castes population and a phenomenaly increase among the rest. One section increased its proportion form 15% to 22%; a second from 7.5% to 12% ; a third from 9.8% to 16%. These are sections clamoring for more and yet more welfare and also political power. Unless the population growth among those who cannot afford and who look to and are promised government delivered incomes and jobs. is controlled Indian politics will become uncontrollably populist to the detriment of India becoming a prosperous and powerful and intellectual nation.
3. For more than four decades China imposed one-child norm. The results are astounding. It is now the second largest economy . Its share in the world trade is increasing and its power is getting projected everywhere. Universal and high class education, rapid industrialization moved the rural population into cities and manufacturing . Education and patriotism are enabling China to be in the front ranks of the world’s greatest industrial and military achievements. It is tragic that every political party in the country, especially the regional ones in their hunger for power and dynasty‘s inheritance of it are distributing the wealth faster than it is being created . The indebtedness of governments that populist welfare and its distribution caste -and religion -wise will add to our misery and of course to the concentration of wealth in the fewer people who are educated, motivated and organized. It is very apt to recall Abraham Lincoln’s advise to his nation.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich
You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money
You cannot keep out trouble by spending more than you earn
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could do for themselves
(414 words)
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