India Archive
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Who cares about quality in NREGA?
Posted on August 30, 2009 | No CommentsNREGA has been relatively successful in many states in creating a large volume of employment, but critics have pointed out that the quality of projects is often poor. I agree with this assessment and argue that employment tends to be provided since there is a pressure for creating work and paying wages on a timely basis. But there is little pressure for quality from any source, be it administration, social movements or people at large. Unless we get some pressure group for ensuring quality, it is likely that quality of work in NREGA will continue to be poor in the years to come. -
Thinking of NREGA from the beautiful Adirondacks
Posted on August 30, 2009 | No CommentsMost great parks of the US were created by NREGA-like public works programmes. Here are some dreams for NREGA in India. -
Jaswant’s Obama-like interview on his Jinnah biography in CNN-IBN
Posted on August 17, 2009 | No CommentsIn an Obama-like interview Jaswant Singh deals with a complex and polarizing topic like India-Pakistan partition with sensitivity and statesmanship that is rarely seen in Indian politics. -
NREGA for the disabled
Posted on August 15, 2009 | No CommentsNREGA presents an unprecedented opportunity for disabled persons across India to earn a living and to showcase their talents. But as things stand, NREGA is not designed for disabled people to participate in it, but we can change it all with some tweaking. -
Will trained workers in Panchayats improve the quality of NREGA?
Posted on August 15, 2009 | 3 CommentsMihir Shah argued in a recent article that trained workers should be appointed in each Panchayat if NREGA has to fulfill its promises. While Panchayats need personnel to implement NREGA, I argue that for the purpose of planning it would be better to create nodal agencies that take up planning sound works in a campaign mode. -
Politics, technology & accountability II
Posted on July 27, 2009 | No Comments“To be ruled is to be kept an eye on, inspected, spied on, regulated, indoctrinated, sermonized, listed and checked off, estimated, appraised, censured, ordered about…to be ruled is at every operation, transaction, movement, to be noted, registered, counted, priced, admonished, prevented, reformed, redressed, corrected”. Proudhon quoted by James Scott in Seeing like a state. The power of information is often used by those in powerful positions to control others. The right to information movement inverts this principle and turns the gaze on those in positions of power by making their actions visible and thus amenable to democratic control. Sharing information... -
Usability: Giving information is not enough
Posted on July 16, 2009 | No CommentsData, data everywhere, not a bit to use: Why the Budget website is informative but nearly useless, and how to make it usable The Government of India (GoI) has an informative website with all budget speeches and the complete set of budget proposals. Consider these simple questions: 1. Which department got the highest outlay? 2. What has happened to expenditure on child-related schemes over the last 10 years? 3. Which states are getting money for laying roads? 4. Which states have not used allotted money for primary education? 5. Do reserved constituencies get less allocation? These are reasonable questions people... -
8 Principles for open government data & beyond
Posted on July 16, 2009 | No CommentsIn an age of digital information, how should government publish electronic data in keeping with high standards of right to information. -
Will the Unique ID project improve accountability?
Posted on July 5, 2009 | 3 CommentsImproving accountability depends on political and social initiatives, and not technological solutions. But technology can shape society and politics in limited ways. This article looks briefly at how the Unique id project can help in improving accountability of the government to people in India. -
Best book on India’s development by Amartya Sen and Dreze
Posted on December 11, 2008 | No CommentsBook: India: Development and participation Authors: Amartya Sen & Jean Dreze My favourite book on India’s development issues. Provides a comprehensive overview of many important development issues In my opinion this book is gold standard and is a must read for anyone intersted in development issues. Amartya Sen is distinguished for his ability to incorporate a wide variety of concerns including growth, inequalities, gender issues, power relations, etc. Dreze complements these abilities and also brings in significant field-level experience apart from rigorous research. India: Development and Participation combines a broad understanding of development with remarkable balance in dealing with various...
