The first question to ask is: Where is this Rs. 12.6 lakh crore coming from? How much of it is borrowed? How much is just printed money?
Second: How much of this money is to be invested in Capital - and how much is to be "consumed"? This will reveal how much is spent on salaries and the like, and how much on "welfare": ditch-digging, cheap rice, miseducation, etc. And how much is left over to build roads - which are Social Capital; "collective property."
Mundle does not look into the Bundle.
He sings praises of Nilekani, some ex-IAS chappies, and a BJD MP - and in favour of State education.
Mundle asks an important question in his opening lines - and do read his response to it:
How much of that will be wasted, and how much will translate into actual delivery of development projects or public services, and what quality of services? Nobody really knows.
Amazing!
The Professor Emeritus of the National Institute of Public Finance & Policy writes this!
"Nobody really knows" where The Bundle is going, so says Professor Mundle!
There are 3 aspects to Economic Science:
- Economic Theory
- Economic Policy, and
- Public Finance
Our The State is a Complete ZERO in all three!
After Maharashtra government, Gujarat government has banned a book on Gandhi.
ReplyDeleteNarendra Modi moved a resolution in the Assembly banning the book's sale, distribution, publication and broadcast in the state which was passed unanimously
"The writing is perverse. It has hurt the sentiments of those with the capacity of sane and logical thinking" said Modi.
Those of us who have watched the proceedings of Lok Sabha or any state legislature would feel "the house has hurt the sentiments of those voters with the capacity of sane and logical thinking". Should we ban Lok Sabha and state legislatures too.
The First Amendment to US constitution pertains to freedom of speech, the second protects the rights of the people to keep and bear arms.
It seems that the founding fathers of US knew that a time may come when the people might have to defend themselves from their own state.
Instead of Right to Education and NREGA we ought to have Freedom of speech which should be protected by judiciary in case the state tries to curtail it.
Freedom of speech alone can create so many Jobs in India. Think of tribals composing Rap songs highlighting their situation and using the choicest of expletives for their oppresors. This will truly be "Jai Ho" for democracy.
Also freedom of speech allows you to oppose a writer's view too. For instance I may not agree with everything on this blog But I do read it and the comments section enables me to voice my opinion too. But If i were to stop Viewing this blog altogether, I would miss so much. If someone like Modi has issues with content of a book, then they should resort to academic articles to highlight their opposition , or better yet write a book themselves. But writing a book involves real work, much real than even winning elections.
would love to hear your views on the recent ban of the the concerned book:-
Great Soul; Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle with India by Joseph Lelyveld.
@Singh: You're a Singh after my own heart. God bless you. Fuck The System!
ReplyDeleteAccording to rediff
ReplyDelete"The Centre is now mulling an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, which will make any action or gesture that shows 'disrespect' to the Mahatma a criminal offence punishable by a jail term".
yeah FTS!
Na zdorovie