For the 5th year in a row India has increased Developmental Aid to neighbouring countries. 2014-2015 aid donations looked like this:
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Many countries on this list are very ungrateful and even have an anti Indian stance. Why do we need to increase aid donations to these countries. Does it have any benefits for us?
2010-
India Emerges as an Aid Donor | Center For Global Development
2011-
India to set up central foreign aid agency | Global development | The Guardian
2013-
India’s foreign aid program catches up with its global ambitions | Devex
2014-
Massive increase in foreign aid budget
2015-
India's 2015-16 foreign aid budget: Where the money is going | Devex
Aid to some countries has satisfactory returns - Aid to Bhutan is primarily investments in its infrastructure specially its energy infrastructure and in turn close to 75% of all electricity generated in Bhutan is exported to India. It has often proved to be crucial as in case of the North Indian electricity grid failure in 2013 where electricity from Bhutan did the job. Bhutan sees India as its main partner - aid well utilized.
In Sri Lanka the aid is primarily used for relief ad rehabilitation of Sri-Lankan Tamils and infrastructure developments in the Northern provinces where Tamils are in majority. In turn India is popular in Sri-Lankan Tamils which at times drives the state politics of Tamil Nadu. As a whole India isn't received well in Sri Lanka but since the departure of Rajapaksha the scenario has improved with both the governments cooperating for mutual interests and thereby anything detrimental to Indian interests hasn't been reported from there.
Aid to Afghanistan is in the form of investments made in it's basic infrastructure like roads, water supply, telecommunications - People of Afghanistan have an extremely favorable opinion of India - India is the fourth largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan after US, NATO and the West. The Times once said in an editorial that with the United States and other NATO members unwilling to sustain long-term commitments to Afghanistan, the Taliban see India as the only regional enemy capable of resisting them. Aid to Afghanistan is also crucial from the point of view that they offer immense strategic possibilities like we constructed the 218 km long Delaram-Zaranj Highway or A71 at the cost of $ 135 million and some 129 Afghans and 6 Indians in attacks. This has proved a viable alternative route for the duty-free movement of goods through the Chabahar port in Iran to Afghanistan. Key to India's strategy in Afghanistan is to build up transportation links that bypass Pakistan, helping reduce the Afghan economy's dependence on Pakistan. IT will be connected to Chabahar port in Iran in which India is a major stakeholder.
Relations with African nations especially Nigeria have been extremely fruitful - we have been there for humanitarian purposes right from NAM days and have assisted them well in social sector and peace keeping missions. There is a gradual shift from the West to the East as India is now Nigeria’s leading trade partner with oil and non-oil exports hitting N1.8 trillion. Their President is an alumnus from the Indian Military Academy.
Relations with Maldives have been shaky since Nasheed's arrest and GMR Male Airport row though we addressed their recent water crisis well to gain a favorable view of their public.
Relations with Nepal have been by and large good - we offered them a $1.5 billion credit line - they utilized some $150 million but much will be utilized from now on considering their infrastructure fallout from the recent earthquake - Nepali Communists hate India to the core. Aid to Nepal is justified.
Myanmar has at times remained neutral addressing our concerns and securing our interests well.
With Bangladesh **No Comments** - we all know it well.
