Many people talking of why not spending on Poverty ?
Poverty is not something which will vanish in a day. It's long term process. We are spending enough money to to tackle this issue. Poverty is expected to come to 22% from 51% by 2015. By 2040, Our poverty will be in single digit. It would have done better but it was because of Corruption and not with money allocation.
India's poverty will fall from 51% to 22% by 2015: UN report
For Infrastructure, We are already planning to invest some trillion $ in next few years. Come to any of the Top 10 Cities, So much of development already happened.
Now on serious note, Why we giving loan to BD ? 1) We can afford to give 2) BD will work as pro-India. (Even all BD poster here said Hasian is an Indian agent So, we are keeping her in good humour til it last. There is also some more reason.
Don't you agree that this long-term process of combatting poverty can be speeded up by allocating more funds, and more efficiently like Syama Ayas mentioned?
It is "expected" to drop, ofcourse, India is growing, every country is growing. I too expect Pakistan to be a little different then how it is right now, in let's say, 5 to 10 years.
But looking at how and when, and especially in the current circumstances, I'd say that the 750 million dollar loan puts BD and its people in a strange position or might I even say stranglehold, and it also makes people wonder why India is trying to get ahead of herself by handing out loans already and trying to be the "example" it wants to be for other nations.
Surely your top 10 cities must have been developed to a certain extent, but I wasn't talking about those cities where things seem allright.
I was talking about people living outside the city, having to deal with other circumstances, and oftne not even having acces to basic goods in life. Those are the people who need help and assistance.
If India really wants to help out Bangladesh and if India can "afford" it, then why not donate the 750 million bucks? I'm sure you'd have the BD government adjust their stance and become pro-India.
Ofcourse there are more reasons, India is looking out for her own interests with this loan, and if they manage to gain some brownie points with the Bangladeshi people and its government, then that too is a nice little bonus right?
But to be honest, if you visit some of India's worst parts, can you walk up to someone living in such circumstances, can you look at him in the eyes and tell him that "we" can "afford" lending money to other entities?
Ofcourse not.
If the percentage of people living in poverty drops signficantly to let's say..single digits, I'd commend India for their role in world politics.
But I don't think it's necessary for India to get ahead of time with these actions.
I'd be interested in reading opinions from Indians about this matter, who are not a member of this defence board for example.
Views vary alot, as we have seen in this thread.