Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/233

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DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES 1. India and the World India is now the second most populous country in the world, second only to China. India has only 2.5 % of the total area of the world but 17% of the world population to support. And this population is increasing out of control; that is why India is a poor country. Our annual national per person-income is Rs. 4550 whereas among our neighbors, only Bangladesh and Burma are poorer than us. Pakistan, has Rs. 5250, and Sri Lanka has Rs 60,000 while the "developed countries of the west” are around Rs 1,50,000, USA being over Rs.2,55,000. (ref; Statistical Outline. of India; figures in dollars converted to Rs @ = Rs.15;1985-86-Tata Services Ltd). We may console ourselves that happiness cannot be measured by wealth alone. On the other hand, a starving man cannot be a happy man either. 2. India in the Developing World India is gifted reasonably well by nature. We have plenty of sunlight, a good average annual rainfall, fertile land, sufficient coal, iron and other mineral resources and a fairly hospitable climate all year round. This is why among the human species, a big section settled in this land and developed an oldest culture which is surviving till this day. Rural Development Through Education System 220