Centre for legislative education and research in association with PRS on Dr. Ambedkar's Birth Anniversary presents Regional Roots of Development: Interpreting The Dravidian Model.

Abstract:

Defying economic logic that the poorer regions grow faster to catch up with the richer ones and embrace the path of convergence, the regional inequality in India has deepened over time. These widening differences in economic and social outcomes across the states are seen as an outcome of state-specific histories, political regimes, and developmental policies followed. Tamil Nadu is one of the very few states in India that has managed to achieve economic growth and relatively equitable developmental outcomes. Less than 30% of its workforce is involved in agriculture; it is highly urbanized and has built a substantial industrial infrastructure. While this transformation has certainly created new opportunities and brought in a degree of inclusion, it has brought in fresh challenges like poor quality of jobs, changing nature of caste inequalities and a heightened ecological crisis. Drawing on archival material and secondary data, this presentation will show how such transformation was achieved and indicate its emerging limits.