9 International Cooperation in Development
I AM VERY happy to note that the Swedish Association for Development Issues truly constiitutes one more expression of the wider sympathies of the people and the government of Sweden for human development and of their genuine interest in the several experiments that are in the making all over the world in that regard.
My main purpose today is to refer briefly to our own experiment in economic development in India over the past two decades and to share the main lessons from our experience as I see them. I know that the Indian experiment is of interest to you also not only because India is one of the largest countries — with 1/6th of the world's population -- but also because we are seeking to implement programmes for economic growth and social justice through democratic process.
Although planning for economic development began in India some twenty years ago, in 1951, an altogether new and radical departure in our programmes and policies took place some two years ago when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to revitalise not only the Congress Party she leads but the entire political and economic life in the country. For most outside observers, perhaps the most significant events that have taken place in India in the last two years are the general elections, the unprecedented mandate for the Government led by Mrs. Gandhi and the role that India has played in caring for the refugees from Bangladesh and in assisting the heroic people of Bangladesh in their struggle for freedom. These are momentous developments by any standard. The election results and the massive mandate for the ruling party have belied the gloomy prophesies regarding the fragile or tenuous nature of democracy and unity in India. But significant and even momentous as these developments are, they should not obscure the underlying shift in economic programmes and policies or strategy, if you like, which lies at the core of Mrs. Gandhi's efforts and which is indeed the main source of her appeal to the vast masses of our people.