Note sent in by Prof. Nirvikar Singh

[Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabhlok@almaak.usc.edu>]

Good morning folks,

Nirvikar Singh, Professor in the Department of Economics, University of
California, Santa Cruz, has sent in to me a paper entitled

"Miracles and Reform: Policy Reflections for India"

I assume that by sending it to me, as a follow up to my request to new
participants, that he stands for some ideas, and that he is bold and
courageous enough, and interested, in putting up his ideas for debate, and
so I have posted his paper at: 

	http://www.indiaconsult.com/indiapolicy/Notes/nirvikar1.html

in the HTML format.

This paper can also be accessed from the Notes subsection of the
"Supporting Material" section on the main indiapolicy web page.

Well, the paper is open for debate, even though it is not precisely in the
point-wise or para-wise format as what was required in the rules of
debate. I think we need to appreciate the time constraints of all members,
and be flexible on this. 

Dear Nivikar (I hope you don't mind being called by first name: we have
this informal thing going on here on this group where people are respected
as people first and people last, irrespective of age, qualification, or
experience), I hope you have no objections to your paper being put up so,
for debate, and that no copyrights are being infringed. If you have any
objections, pl. let me know at once!

And thanks for your post. 

In particular, I think all of us on this list are truly grateful for this
participation by academicians within two days of my sending out the first
request (another Professor, from Boston, has sent in his enthusiastic best
wishes, but before I post his mail I need his permission for that: I do
not post personal mail). Shows that this is surely going to build into the
kind of platform to develop the debates that are sorely needed in India.

Are we fulfilling a deeply felt need, or what! I think all of us know that
we **are** [fulfilling a deeply, sorely, felt need]:  that we do indeed
need a platform to debate and to get only the best, workable ideas...

Too much and too long we have waited for the existing policy thinkers to
come out with a cogent document. The Congress Manifesto, for example,
says, after 50 years of independence, in 1998: 

	Saare Desh Se Nata hai
	Sarkar Chalana Aata Hai

	(see: http://indiancongress.org/ELECTION/ELC98-A1.HTM)

Presumably that is enough to take India to a 10% growth rate of real per
capita incomes! 

I think India needs to go far beyond that kind of rhetoric. What else have
we trained millions of professionals, economists, and others, for? Now it
is their turn to change India! 

Sanjeev

Go IndiaPolicy! 
Seek out the gold!!