Back | Programme Area: Social Policy and Development (2000 - 2009)
Social Policy in Indian Development (Draft)
The recognition that social policy is not just the outcome of simple welfare considerations, but rather a key instrument in the process of development, which works in association with economic policy as part of a broader strategy, is an important step towards working out mechanisms for its greater spread and effectiveness. However, in order to ground social policy more firmly within development strategy and work out the links between it and more straightforward macroeconomic policy, it is necessary to be aware of the political economy contexts within which both sets of policy are developed and evolve. In this paper, an attempt is made to analyse the nature of social policy in the recent Indian development experience, ask why it has taken these specific forms and patterns, consider its achievements and limitations, and probe how it can be transformed into a more effective instrument for equitable and sustainable development.
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