Watch Forthcoming Posts On Critical News Items

Friends: We have important topics on hand to write about:

1. Poverty in India: India has made impressive progress in reducing poverty over the past five decades, more so during the last two decades with economy growing at rates ranging from 5 to 7% p.a. Yet, there are important issues coming up including efficiency of poverty alleviation strategies and program, and growing ineqality in income distribution.

2. Agricultural Subsidies. Agriculture Minister, Mr. Sharad Pawar's recent attempt to reduce food subsidies that go to the population above the poverty line (APLs), which had the cabinet approval, was abrumptly stopped by some political parties that support the national government. What is behind this opposition to reducing food subsidies to APLs, a courages move by Mr. Pawar to reduce inefficiencies in public expenditures and better target subsidies? Are so-called communist and socialist parties scared of losing votes of industrial union workers? Is emerging political economy in India contributing the country to grow or slowdown the growth?

3. Equal Treatment to India and Pakistan on Nuclear Energy Issue? Senator John Kerry, in his recent visit to India, supported US-India deal on technology transfer for nuclear energy for civil use. Mr. Kerry wants US to give equal treatment to Pakistan in this area. Looks like there is little change in the democratic party's mindset ....its leaders are not reckoning that while India is the World's single largest democracy, Pakistan is still a dictatorship. Mr. Kerry, are you trying to rock the very rationale for the emerging US-India relationship based on the foundation of the two countries' faith in democracy? Let us explore this topic further as we go along?

Meanwhile, please feel to comment and contribute.