"India’s limited Development fromGrowth: World’s largest DemocracyGrowth and Development are often talked in the same perspective by a commonman without realizing that there is stark difference between the two which isacknowledged only by a few higher educated citizens. Indian Growth rate isapplauded by the political leaders countrywide and even worldwide; refers to themeasurement of economic and monetary parameters of the country such as GDPwhereas development refers to the social indicators of the country such as literacy rate, infant mortality rate which is absent from the mainstream economic, politicaland social debates in the world’s largest democratic country India.Time and again India is viewed to be on path of gaining largest economic powerposition. But its development parameters indicate a completely opposite scenariowhere its position is second lowest (life expectancy, infant mortality, immunizationof children, girl’s schooling) in South Asia (except Afghanistan) just leavingPakistan behind. The dismal level of development indicators is also evident fromthe UNDP’S Human Development Index (comprising life expectancy, educationand GNI per capita), where India slipped down one position to 131. Thus, thesocietal reach of India’s growth is very limited and fruits of growth are not utilizedfor providing even the basic facilities to citizens and developing humancapabilities. Certainly, more is expected from the highest and fastest growinglargest democratic country by effectively and efficiently integrating growth withdevelopment and it’s high time to realize that growth without development isunsustainable and that is why India is experiencing Jobless Growth.India is multi-religious, multi-caste and multi-class based country, so efforts of thesame quantum and magnitude is required but there is surely lack of willingness andshortage of accountability in the public sector. Definitely, there has beenimprovementas compared to 1951 such as life expectancy increased from 32 to 66years,infant mortality improved to 44 from 180 per 1000 and female literacy has gone up from 9% to 65 % and although efforts and policies (Right to EducationAct 2010, NREGA, ICDS) are undertaken from time to time to climb the ladder ofdevelopment but more is expected from the country which gained remarkableHindu growth rate of 3.5% immediately after independence by adopting the policyof government of the people, for the people, by the people.However, even afterseven decades, India still struggles with the problem of illiteracy, poverty and poorhealth indicators and there has been a slow improvement in these spheres.The explanation of the deficiency lies in the basics. India’s education system isplagued with the twin problems of limited coverage and poor quality whereas thehealth sector lacks the universal health care programe. These two combined leadsto massive poverty in the country and thus declining the overall development of thecountry. There is tremendous difference in the Northern and the Southern Indiawhere states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala are performing much better than UttarPradesh, Haryana Madhya Pradesh as represented in Table below:Parameter Kerala Tamil Uttar Haryana MadhyaNadu Pradesh PradeshLife 74.9 70.6 64.1 68.6 64.2ExpectancyLiteracy Rate 93.91 80.33 69.72 76.64 70.63 Sex ratio 1084 996 912 879 931Source: Census 2011One of the reason of this difference is that in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the womentake active role in the enhancement of the society and as a matter of fact TheIntegrated Child Development Services (the sole programme for the childrenbelow 6 years of age) is entirely run by women in Tamil Nadu from top to bottom,as a result of which more than 80% of the children are immunized which is highestin India and 96% of mothers felt that ICDS is important for their children. Thus,there is requirement in other states also for commitment to comprehensive anduniversalistic social policies in public health, childcare and elementary education.This also emphasizes on the difference that women can make to society.India spends lower proportion of GDP (1.2%) in the health sector as compared tocounterparts such as China (2.7%), Bangladesh among others. Out of which India’srd public sector spending is only a small share (<1/3 ) and this leads to extensive roleof private sector in the health economy of the country. Since health and educationare public goods (Paul Samuelson, 1954)and as per PROBE (Public Report onBasic Education), official school days is around 200 but with the absenteeism(20%)ratio of teacher and student (33%) along the actual teaching activities, thedays remain only 50 in government schools.Since these basic facilities are notprovided efficiently by the public sector, private sector plays a huge role and so they suffer from the problem of externalities, asymmetric information and thisleads to adverse selection and moral hazard such as relying extensively on privateschools which demand high tuition fees (it is coming into light now after beenunaddressed for many years). Also, a recent analysis found that only 3% of thequestions in the Indian Parliament are related to children which comprise 40% ofthe total population. The mainstream media and democratic politics lack discussionand debate on children health and education. Naturally, India’s child immunizationrates are lowest in the world. This further fosters inequality in the economy wherefew privileged section of the economy are having much better education and healthfacilities as compared to other larger section. Thus, there is requirement to provide basic elementary education and universalhealth care proramme by eradicating corruption, active role of women especially indemographic transition, self- awareness schemes. This means first - integration ofgrowth with development and second- more accountability in the public sector tofoster trust and remove credibility gap between public and government are the keyto the development of human capabilities which will inturn lead to high rates ofgrowth and then India will become an Economic leader and Socially powerfulcountry in the true sense.It is time to realize the circular relation between education-health-humancapabilities- poverty- Development-Growth. It depends upon the government "