Bringing together essays critical in contemporary development discourse, this volume addresses the broad themes of development as freedom, equality and human ascent within the framework of democracy and decentralised governance.

The first seven essays interrogate and critique the ideas of democracy, development and its translation into the pursuit of growth that is market driven and measured exclusively in terms of GNP. They search for possible,more inclusive reconceptualisations of ‘development’.The other seven look at issues like primary education, food security, metropolitan finance,caste and gender parity, technology as freedom, decentralisation and innovation in governance—in particular,the Kerala model of development,Latin American experiments in democracy,and China’s growth story—all of which offer valuable comparisons and lessons for India,and the world.

Eclectic in their range of concerns, perspectives and insights, the common thread binding the essays is the accent on human development and social inclusion—a fitting tribute to developmental economist Professor M. A. Oommen whose influential writings and teachings reflect a lifelong commitment to equity.

With contributions by well known economists from India and abroad, this volume will be useful for students and scholars of economics and development studies,finance, public policy, governance and sociology.

Ash Narain Roy is Director, Institute of Social Sciences, Delhi.

George Mathew is Chairman, Institute of Social Sciences, Delhi.

List of Tables and Figures

Publisher’s Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Ash Narain Roy and George Mathew

1. The Need for Impatience

Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen

2. A Synopsis of the Idea of Development

Henry Veltmeyer

3. Reconceptualising Social Development

Manoranjan Mohanty

4. Technology, Freedom and Development: Towards Some Conceptual Clarifications

T. K. Oommen

5. Development as Growth of GNP: The Trojan Horse of Development Discourse

K. N. Kabra

6. A Post-Capitalist Paradigm: The Common Good of Humanity and the ‘Progressive Governments’ of Latin America

François Houtart

7. Amartya Sen in Beijing: Comparing Human Development in India and China

Joseph Tharamangalam

8. Universal Primary Education, the Obstacles in Rural Areas: A Comparison.

G. K. Lieten

9. Poverty Alleviation: The Indian Food Security Oriented Approach

M. H. Suryanarayana

10. Metropolitan City Finance in India: Options for a New Fiscal Architecture

Roy Bahl

11. Politics of a Public Space Refusing to be Public Enough: A Case of Innovation in Governance from Kerala

K. N. Harilal

12. Towards Sustainable Innovation: The Plantation Sector in Kerala

K. J. Joseph

13. State, Markets, and Changing Household Demand for Education in Kerala

N. V. Varghese

14. Family Planning and the History of Gender in Kerala: A Brief Foray

J. Devika

M. A. Oommen: A Profile

Ash Narain Roy

Notes on Contributors

Index