This refers to the report “India ranks 119th in UNDP’s Human Development Report 2010” (November 4). The UNDP report rightly characterises India among the fastest growing economies in terms of GDP but the country’s Human Development Index (HDI) rank of 119 out of 169 countries is a matter of concern. The strides India is making to remove inequality are not enough. The fact that India’s HDI value would see a 30 per cent loss after factoring in inequality – especially in education and health care – reinforces the need to focus on these areas and not just the export figures, foreign exchange and inflows from foreign direct investment. Against the background of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India and his rhetoric aiming to strengthen the Indo-US business partnership, India needs to pay attention to the basic issues. In its collaboration with the US, India should not only focus on IT exports to the US in exchange for GE, Boeing and Harley Davidson doing business here, but it should also try to focus on education and universal food distribution.
Amitava Banik, Kolkata
