Seminar

https://youtu.be/Ortm9dXSbIg Press note

On the occasion of 27th death anniversary of Com.Neelam Rajasekhar Reddy, Neelam Rajasekhar Reddy Research Centre organized a lecture by Dr Ch. Hanumantha Rao, former member of the Planning Commission, Government of India and Honorary professor, Centre for Economic and Social Studies on " Widening income inequalities in India and failure to overcome Socio-political constraints ".

The program started with the garlanding of the statue of Com.Neelam Rajasekhar Reddy by Dr Ch.Hanumantha Rao, Com. Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, Former General Secretary of the CPI, Com. K. Ramakrishna, Secretary of CPI, AP, Com. Chada Venkata Reddy, Secretary of the CPI, Telangana, Dr K. Purnachandra Rao, Director, Neelam Rajasekhar Reddy Research Centre, Com. P. J. Chandrasekhara Rao, Convenor,NRRRC and many other leaders of People's organizations.

The meeting was presided by Dr. K. Rajani, Director, Health Centre, C. R. Foundation.

Dr Ch. Hanumantha Rao referred to various research studies, highlighting the Widening income inequalities in India and in the world. Globalization, per se, is not alone responsible for them. In fact, in several countries of South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, income inequalities have declined due to the progressive policies followed by left and Social democratic governments even in the post-globalization period. This desirable result was achieved in smaller democracies in Scandinavian countries in the last decades of Twentieth Century. But in the larger European countries, United States, China, India and in several other countries, Income inequalities increased along with growth. The evidence from 15 OECD countries established that there is a negative correlation between growth and reduction in income inequalities, debunking the theory of " Growth first and equal distribution later". Dr Hanumantha Rao said that the governments reduced tax rates and relaxed government restrictions in the quest for attracting global capital. Reduced public expenditures on education and health and Privatization led to unequal access to quality education and health. Reduced unionization, lower welfare expenditures and money power influencing policy decisions have led to high and unacceptable income inequalities in countries where two thirds of world populations live.

In india, people belonging to Scheduled tribes, Scheduled Castes and minorities failed to come out of poverty at the same pace as other caste persons. Poor people,

Small scale industries, small and marginal farmers and women had access to lower credit in the post-liberalization period. The gap between rich and poor states and between urban and rural areas contributed to the Widening income inequalities in the country. Democratization of institutions right from grass root level, building social mass movements and coalitions between working class with the farmers, middle classes and urban and rural poor is the biggest challenge before the left and democratic forces in both the developed and developing countries to counter the trend of rising income inequalities.

Dr K. Purnachandra Rao, Director, NRRRC, presented the essence of Dr Ch. Hanumantha Rao's lecture in Telugu. Com. K.Ramakrishna, Com. Chada Venkata Reddy and Com.

Azeez Pasha paid rich Tributes to Com. Neelam Rajasekhar Reddy, his qualities as a good Communist and untiring efforts in strengthening the party education at all levels.

Com. P. J. Chandrasekhara Rao, Convenor, NRRRC, proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers and all those who attended the physical as well virtual meeting through zoom link.