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Sibal attributes inequitable growth to edu backwardness

Last Updated 04 December 2009, 12:30 IST

"...We are not able to deliver the kind of inclusiveness, that we wish we had, and part of the reason is that structurally we are not poised to do that. How can there be inclusive growth where your gross enrolment ratio is 12.4 per cent, for every 100 persons that go to school, only 12.4 are eligible to go to college?" Sibal said at an award function of CNBC-TV18 last night.

At a panel discussion, he said drop out rate in the secondary level is 46 per cent.
"...to have inclusive growth you have to empower people at the bottom of the ladder," the HRD minister said.

To a query from a moderator, Sibal said he was not sure of the accuracy of the Arjun Sengupta Commission's finding that 77 per cent of the population in the country live on Rs 20 a day.

"I am not sure of the accuracy of that.. I don't think that it entirely reflects what is there on the ground, because there is a parallel economy, that do not figure into the system. The fact is there are at least 500 million people who live on less than USD two dollars a day, I will not say 77 per cent, but there are certainly 60 per cent of the people who live on less than two dollars a day," he said.

Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), said unless the fundamental problem of inclusive growth is addressed, the country would not have a really sound future.

Former RBI Governor Y V Reddy said lots of manufacturing is being outsourced by India and "We have insourced the services. Lot of manufacturing which ought to have been held in the country is not happening."

Reddy, however, kept mum when asked about what steps RBI should take to rein in food inflation that has crossed 17 per cent in the third week of November.
Shobhana Bhartia, Editorial Director of the Hindustan Times bagged the 'Outstanding Woman Leader' award-2009, while mega star Amitabh Bachchan was awarded 'Entertainment Business Leader' of the year.

Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister and the president of All India Football Federation (AIFF), was awarded 'Sports Business Leader' of the Year. PTI IND AN 12041739

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(Published 04 December 2009, 12:30 IST)

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