Millennium Post (Kolkata)

‘India needs to grow at 7-8% per year to become developed by 2047’

‘Developed economy by definition shows per capita income of $13,000. India’s per capita income now is $2700’

- OUR CORRESPOND­ENT

HYDERABAD: India needs to grow at seven to eight per cent annually in order to become a developed nation with $13,000 per capita income by 2047, former Reserve Bank Governor C Rangarajan said on Tuesday.

Asserting that innovation cannot be a single solution to reduce inequaliti­es or poverty, the former Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council said besides faster growth rate, the country may need social safety nets such as subsidies in kind of cash and basic income.

“I would say that the real growth between 7 per cent and 8 per cent will take it closer to the developed economy, because the developed economy by definition shows per capita income of $13,000 or more. India’s per capita income is now at $2700. That means per capita income will have to increase by five times,” he said.

According to him, if the exchange rate is kept at a lower level or if the prices go up then nominal income will increase, then India can become a developed nation.

“Therefore, I am saying that the calculatio­n of dollar value of the Indian economy depends upon the real growth, the level of inflation and exchange rate, he added. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Former Director

According to him, if the exchange rate is kept at a lower level or if the prices go up then nominal income will increase, then India can become a developed nation

General of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), today delivered ICFAI 13th Foundation Day Lecture While Rangarajan, Chancellor of the University, presided over the function in virtual mode.

In his speech, referring to the innovation­s in technology, Rangarajan opined that model economic growth has been spurred by a rapid and persistent observatio­n of technology.

He also said that economists have estimated that one half of the growth experience­d by the developed countries in the last one and a half centuries or more has been due to technology.

The former RBI Governor said more and increased attention has to be on increasing the livelihood opportunit­ies for the people at the bottom of the pyramid and technology should focus on innovation­s that provide the poorer people the facilities that are affordable and accessible.

An inclusive innovation leads to affordable access to quality goods and services, which helps create livelihood opportunit­ies for excluded population­s on a long-term sustainabl­e basis. And play a huge role in dismantlin­g inequality, Mashelkar said in his address.

 ?? ?? Former Reserve Bank Governor C Rangarajan
Former Reserve Bank Governor C Rangarajan

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