Greetings to all and welcome to our JUNE 2010 ‘REEDS NEWS’.

The Indian economic and social scene is full of possibilities and challenges. The pattern of economic growth in India has been quite curious! It took initially 40+ years, for Indian per capita income to become double - from Rs 6000 in 1950-51 to Rs 12000 in 1993-94. However, after liberalization of economy in early nineties, there is significant growth and it took hardly 15 more years from there for the per capita income to become Rs 22500 in 2006-07.

It is a simple economic reasoning – Service sector which used to be secondary contributor to national economy until late 1970s, has replaced Agriculture and allied activities sector which used to be the highest economic contributor in the 50s and 60s, as the largest contributing sector due to the structural changes that got inevitable for the economic growth. Service sector predominate the Indian economy with contribution of over 60% while industrial and agricultural sector remain in subsequent places with about 20% contribution each.

But it is remarkable that despite such changes, the population structure between agriculture and non-agriculture remains almost unchanged with still two-third of the total population depend on later. Over half of the country’s labor force is still engaged in rural activities and over 90 percent labor force work in the informal sector. It is again a paradox that, on the one hand India faces the future with its changing realities; on the other hand, it is to deal with its established traditions and structures.

The experiences have led the policy makers to conclude that far more needs to do to engender more employment opportunities for the majority of Indians, to enable them to participate towards an inclusive growth. In the 11th Plan while emphasizing upon the sustaining the economic growth, efforts have been made to address the basic gaps and challenges like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy etc,. Providing thrust to reform and improve the effectiveness of the Education and Skills Development system that enable the country to reap the scientific and demographic dividend is once such laudable effort.

For these interventions to become reality and provide opportunities for people, particularly living in rural areas, to develop employment opportunities and further means of achieving lifelong learning, what needs is a multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial energy engendering greater competitiveness and accountability at all levels in the process.

REEDS consider it as a privilege for able to contribute its bit in transforming the vision of Skills Development reform process into reality. I thank all those for the valuable and encouraging support for the SKILLS2010, the International Conference on Life and Livelihood Skills – Challenges for Institutional Development , we are organizing in 18 – 20 November 2010 at Hyderabad that would certainly be a purposeful platform for skills development and deployment frame work towards institutional development. Looking forward for your continuous support……

Ravi K Reddy, July 15, 2010

We had our 21st Annual General Body meeting on 26th June 2010 at Hyderabad wherein we resolved to rededicate ourselves to strive to help rural communities help themselves to build a stronger, productive and positive Rural India. As always, the challenges have been many, but the satisfaction of seeing the outcome continues to out space the hurdles. Even as the year that has gone by has given us greater strength to strive hard, learn and grow, the current year seems already filled with exiting challenges. There are also some unfinished tasks remain in the agenda such as Research in the areas related to Rural Development! It is really difficult to quantify or even capture in words the impact of the holistic support received from individuals and organizations last year without which whatever we had done would not have been possible. This is a reassuring sign of the magnitude of the change this organization will make in the years to come. We would soon forwarding you with the 21st Annual Report of REEDS.

At SKILLS2010 conference front, I have couple of matters to share with you:

As per the advice and suggestions from few of the collaborating organizations to the event in order to avoid clashing with their events and facilitating wider participation, the dates of the conference are moved from 18-20 August 2010 to 18-20 November 2010; and

Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has consented to associate with the event which is a great add-on adding significant value to the event.


Please do keep watching www.skills2010.orgfor updates and we look forward for your valuable support and advice for an eventful and successful conference.

It is interesting to note that in India, the second largest populous country in the world, more number of people has access to mobile phones rather than to a TOILET. According to an UNU 2009 study, about 550 Million, corresponds to 45% of population, mobile phones are in use while only 370 Million people or 35% of population have the access to improved sanitation.

An embarrassing imbalance and a tragic irony to understand that more than half of the population in the country does not have access to the basic necessity and dignity of a TOILET.

If the current Global trends continue, it is predicted, there will be a short fall of 1 billion persons lacking the basic facilities by year 2015 and that 1.5 Million children and countless others would be killed each year by contaminated water and unhealthy sanitation. As per rough cost estimates, Rs.15,000/- is required to build a toilet including labor, material and supervision charges while it is expected a return of Rs. 500/ to Rs 1500/ for every Rupee spent on sanitation and safe drinking water, realized through reduced poverty, improved health conditions and higher productivity.

Though it is about access and not the ownership between Mobiles and Toilets, it is certainly a time to introspect for the policy makers and their implementers on the need to improved sanitation and provision of safe drinking water which is an economic and humanitarian opportunity!

* Sudhir Paul is a Member, Board of Governors of REEDS

On June 17, 2010, the Bolivian government at the UN General Assembly presented a draft resolution declaring the human right to “safe and clean drinking water and sanitation”. The final text is expected to present to the President of the General Assembly for tabling near the end of July 2010. So far, 190 states have acknowledged — directly or indirectly — the human right to safe water and sanitation.
Source:www.boliviaun.org

REEDS welcome support and participation in any manner that suit one’s convenience. All the monitory contributions to REEDS qualify for deduction under section 80 G of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961.

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