After farming, retailing is India’s major occupation. It employs 40 million people. A sizeable majority of owner/employees are in the business because of lack of other opportunities.
The decade of liberalisation has so far been one of jobless growth. It is no wonder that retail has become the refuge of these millions. Lopsided economic development is transforming India from an agrarian economy directly to a service oriented post-industrial society.
The Indian retail industry is highly fragmented. According to AC Nielsen and KSA Technopak, India has the highest shop density in the world. In 2001, it was estimated that there were 11 outlets for every 1000 people. Since the agriculture sector is over-crowded and the manufacturing sector stagnant, millions of young Indians are virtually forced into the service sector.
The presence of more than one retailer for every hundred persons is indicative of how many people are being forced into this form of self employment, despite limitations of capital and space.
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Continue reading 'Keep India Independent'»
By Himanshu Jha
India stands fourth in the list of countries ranked on the basis of number of billionaires. In 2011 we had 55 billionaires with a total world share of 4.5 per cent. A pretty straightforward record when we calculate the number of billionaires. Numbers become fuzzy when we start going about the business of calculating poor people. The Arjun Sengupta Committee pegged it at 77 per cent with that many people surviving on Rs 20 a day; the N C Saxena Committee pegged it at 50 per cent of the population living below the poverty line and then the Tendulkar report came up with a figure of 37 per cent (which was the most acceptable to the government). Continue reading 'Redefining policy directions'»
Say NO to the principles of “responsible” agro-enterprise investment promoted by the World Bank
State and private investors, from Citadel Capital to Goldman Sachs, are leasing or buying up tens of millions of hectares of farmlands in Asia, Africa and Latin America for food and fuel production. This land grabbing is a serious threat for the food sovereignty of our peoples and the right to food of our rural communities.
In response to this new wave of land grabbing, the World Bank (WB) is promoting a set of seven principles to guide such investments and make them successful. The FAO, IFAD and UNCTAD have agreed to join the WB in collectively pushing these principles. Their starting point is the fact that the current rush of private sector interest to buy up farmland is risky. After all, the WB has just finalised a study showing the magnitude of this trend and its central focus on transferring rights over agricultural land in developing countries to foreign investors. Continue reading 'Stop Land Grabbing Now!'»
The government of India was forced by an overwhelming public opinion to declare a moratorium on the release of the transgenic Brinjal (Aubergines/Egg plant) hybrid developed by Mahyco, a subsidiary of American seed giant Monsanto.
Bt brinjal is created by inserting a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the brinjal cell. Monsanto claims the transgenic variety they have developed has resistance against pests such as Shoot Borer and Fruit Borer. Continue reading 'India’s democratic battle for safe food'»
The Government of India finally acceded to the overwhelming public opinion in India. The Environment Ministry announced its decision to impose a moratorium on the release of the transgenic brinjal hybrid developed by Mahyco, a subsidiary of global seed giant Monsanto. The central government was under pressure with 13 state governments making it clear their opposition to the commercial use of Bt Brinjal.
According to the Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, the moratorium will last “till such time independent scientific studies establish, to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals, the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment, including the rich genetic wealth existing in brinjal in our country.”
Environmental activist and a leading voice on food safety, Dr Vandana Shiva tweeted: GMO free movement wins a victory with Moratorium on BT Brinjal. This is a step towards food democracy.
As India wakes up in the morning and reads the news in leading newspapers, most media have conveniently ignored to publish the highlights of the minister’s report – available at the ministry website. Continue reading 'India says NO to Bt Brinjal'»
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