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“Sociologists, economists should work together”

— Photo : T. Singaravelou

SHARING A POINT: UPSC member E. Balagurusamy (second from right) with Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University J.A.K Tareen at a seminar in Puducherry on Sunday.

PUDUCHERRY: Sociologists and economists should work in tandem to garner the real benefits of globalisation, member of the Union Public Service Commission and former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University E. Balagurusamy has said. He was addressing a two-day seminar on “Globalisation and its impact on society” at Pondicherry University on Sunday.

The impact of globalisation on the “long cherished cultural values of the country” and the growing income disparity between the rich and the poor had put the onus on sociologists and economists to find a way to manage the situation arising out of liberalisation in a better way, he said. Globalisation was here to stay, whether we liked it or not, and the only way to minimise the impact of the new economic policy was to manage it in a better way, he said.

“Sociologists and economists should also assist the government in an effective implementation of the new economic policy,” he said. Terming globalisation as “a phenomenon of change,” he said, “When change occurs, it could be for the better or worse. All effort should be made to turn the outcome of the change for the betterment of society. My greatest worry about globalisation is its impact on children, especially with regard to the impact on the value system. There is every possibility that they become materialistic,” Mr. Balagurusamy said.

Parents and teachers had a great responsibility in guiding and making the children strong enough to choose the good side of globalisation, he added.

On the economic factor involved in globalisation, he said equitable distribution of wealth would be the greatest challenge before the policy-makers. He also appealed to the corporate world and IT majors to take into consideration the prevailing socio-economic scenario in the country before coming out with “hefty pay packs.”

Mr. Balagurusamy said the high growth rate in the Gross Domestic Product sector and increase in the foreign exchange reserves auger well for the country. It had made the Indian companies more competitive and also increased the export potential of the firms. Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University J.A.K. Tareen said that globalisation was the consequence of the need for mutual dependence.

“It has brought the nations together. Even developed countries such as the United States are dependent on developing countries,” he said.

Expressing apprehension over the impact of globalisation on children, Mr. Tareen said overdependence on technology could make the “young ones mundane.”

The seminar was organised by the Departments of Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work and International Studies of the university.

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