Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Re-look at subsidies

By calling for a hard re-look at subsidies and hinting at the possibility of ending those subsidies which have failed to bring about equity (Dec. 16), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reaffirmed his faith in globalisation, liberalisation and the market economy. While our policymakers take pride in the magical growth rate of 8.6 per cent, they should not lose sight of the fact that it has done nothing to improve the lives of the hundreds of millions of poor.

In 2006, India ranked 126 in the Human Development Index, and in just one year it has been pushed to the128th place. Dr. Singh would do well to take a fresh look at the social security policies in most of the developed countries. He will then stop speaking against subsidies.

Sahaya Philomin Raj SJ,

Madurai

V.V.S. Mani,

Bangalore

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