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India at 60

Though there's a lot of substance in such claims, the fact remains that in its 60th year as an independent nation, India with its stupendous economic growth and a vibrant democracy can indeed be regarded as a global power to reckon with.

Following the economic liberalisation in the 1990s, the country has managed to maintain a steady economic growth rate and an enviable forex reserve. The economic success can be primarily attributed to the rapid growth in industries, especially in the information technology sector, and the government's deregulation policies.

The main beneficiary of the boom is certainly the rising Indian middle class. By 2010, the middle class population is expected to touch 300 million, which will almost be equal to the population of the United States.

Bangalore is no longer the only globalised boom town of the country. Places like Gurgaon with their visible economic prosperity is setting new benchmarks in luxury and facilities for the urban middle class people who are now more confident than ever about their country's ascendancy.

But has the economic growth percolated down to the poor? Even though official records show that poverty is on the decline, there's no escaping the fact that there are still millions of Indians who have no access to health facilities, education and social protection. The country needs to concentrate on doing away with income inequalities and other disparities in terms of social benefits. Instead of adopting cosmetic measures, the government needs to create more job opportunities for the poor and the underprivileged and make education accessible to all. More importantly, there's a lot that needs to be done to weed out corruption in public offices, which is a main hindrance to government money reaching the poor.

There are also other social issues that need to be dealt with on a war-footing. It's definitely a matter of pride that India has elected its first woman president this year. But the country can only boast of achieving women's empowerment when it has been successful in containing the escalating violence against women. Female foeticide is a matter of grave concern in a country where it is still believed in some quarters that a girl child is a burden to a family.

Facing stiff opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, which is expected to be beneficial to the country's economic and strategic interests, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh recently told the parliament that India is too large and important a country to give in to foreign powers and with its rich cultural diversity, it is a role model for the world. We have every good reason to believe him.