Structural adjustment in India: an assessment

The Economic Survey, gives an overly rosy, simplistic, and partial picture of the state of the Indian economy. The manner in which the economy affects the lives of the people, especially the poor, weak and marginalised, is barely captured in the official Economic Survey. It is with this concern for providing a more realistic picture of the State of the economy as it impinges on the lives and living of the citizens that this Alternative Economic Survey has been brought out.

This survey is part of an on-going exercise, and some of us have been contributing to this annual exercise since 1992-93. It attempts to provide a more people centred review of the plans, policies and performance, in particular the impact of Fiscal Stabilization and Structural Adjustment Programme (FISSAP) on the Indian economy, its various sectors, social groups, and its long-term development including the state of its natural resources. The Alternative Survey Group is an informal group of concerned citizens who despite the limitations of available information, resources and time, consider it a worthwhile exercise.