Magnifying Mal-Development: Alternative Economic Survey, India

Economic liberalisation in India is causing widespread distress and disenchantment, as evidenced in the 2004 general election results. The Alternative Economic Survey zeroes in on the issues of equity and employment which have been the worst victims of the rush to globalise, liberalise and privatise. Its research brings together the evidence of how the market-friendly current policies being pursued by successive Indian governments are threatening the socio-economic fabric of the country. It seeks to present a realistic, people-centred picture of the state of the Indian economy. It reveals how false is the optimistic impression of development portrayed by the official India Economic Surveys, and tries to evolve the elements of an alternative, people-friendly policy regime.