India progressing, but challenges remain: WB review

  • 20/07/2003

  • Pioneer (New Delhi)

India has continued to make impressive progress in increasing incomes and improving living standards in the past decade says a World Bank review. The review, titled "India: sustaining reform, reducing poverty", says there have been significant achievements in areas such as per capita income, poverty reduction and literacy (particularly women). The review, however, was critical in stating that this trend may not continue for long. And unless there is acceleration of reforms including some serious fiscal adjustments and better investment opportunities, targetted growth rate of 8 per cent in the tenth plan seems unlikely. India, says the report has not done much to improve on certain social indicators like maternal and under-5 mortality, curbing spread of HIV/AIDS, and reducing rural unemployment. The report observed, "Economic development is slow, people still live below poverty line, also regional and urban rural disparity is widening in India."