The Hindu Business Line : World Bank keen on `knowledge partnership' with TN

Addressing a World Bank workshop on `Accelerating growth with equity in Tamil Nadu,' Mr Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief Economist, South Asia Region, The World Bank, said that domestic political consensus alone could sustain policy reforms for development. "Others outside cannot decide. Individuals cannot decide, but only political consensus," he said.

The World Bank would like to form a "knowledge partnership" in Tamil Nadu, which has successful development programmes, to generate data and assist in the process, he said. Only by extensive study of the impact of proposed reforms, and open debate among academicians and researchers to generate policy options, can policies be sustained.The World Bank would like to associate with the State in promoting knowledge creation that can be the basis of debate. But he clarified that it will assist only on issues that are prioritised by the State Government.

It would work with government officials, local researchers and academicians, and would like to strengthen the debate through the media and various forum. Involvement of NGOs helped improve delivery of services, he said.

Tamil Nadu is going through transition — it needs policy reforms, on the heels of the progress it has made in development and poverty alleviation.

Citing success stories in development programmes in varied locations such as Mexico, Uganda and Bangladesh, Mr Devarajan said that success had been the outcome of transparency and public knowledge about the programmes. This led to increased accountability, and even when there was a change in governments, the succeeding government had no option but to expand successful programmes.

The Tamil Nadu Finance Secretary, Mr N. Narayanan, said that growth and better delivery of services have contributed to development in Tamil Nadu. Between 1991 and 2001, it has been able to reduce poverty better than other States. It was now looking at measures to accelerate growth by addressing challenges facing agriculture and manufacturing.

"While keeping a watch on fiscal reforms, there is a need to maintain focus on social sectors," he said. For Tamil Nadu, the Millennium Development Goals that lay emphasis on the social sector, will be central to the planning process.

The State has put in place a poverty monitoring system in the Planning Commission. It will look at new initiatives aimed at improving delivery of public services and increasing efficiencies in poverty reduction programmes, health, nutrition, rural development and sanitation. The State Government is looking at partnering with the World Bank on specific programmes in these areas.

In the primary sector, water management, crop diversification, market access and knowledge dissemination were some of the key areas. But "Tamil Nadu is in a bit of a bind" in agriculture because of its dependence on traditional, water-intensive crops such as paddy. There is no "adequate insurance" against drought. The State can also do better in the small-scale sector and medium enterprises, he said.

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