Remittance flows a great poverty alleviation tool

Remittance flows a great poverty alleviation tool, says report

A study commissioned by the UN agency International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), estimates that remittances -- the portion of migrants' earnings sent back to their families -- reach 10% of the world's population, most of it in the developing world.

An estimated 150 million migrants worldwide sent more than US$ 300 billion to their families in developing countries during 2006.

There are over 50 million migrants from Asia and the Pacific. India is Asia's main exporter of migrants, accounting for 22% of total migrants. Asia receives almost US$ 114 billion in remittances annually -- the highest regional total in the world. And India is the top recipient country, receiving US$ 24.5 billion.

The impact of remittances on rural areas in developing countries in Asia is substantial. In Asian countries that are 65% or more rural, the ratio of remittances per capita to per capita GDP is 23%, and the highest in the world.

These funds are used primarily to meet immediate family needs but a significant portion is also available for savings, credit mobilisation and other forms of investment.

The report calls remittances the world's largest poverty alleviation programme and says it could become an effective grassroots economic development programme, particularly in rural areas that present some of the greatest challenges to financial inclusion.

To aid and enhance the process, the report suggests improvements in data collection, reduction in transaction costs, and increased efforts to leverage remittance flows for greater development impact.

Many Asian migrants and their dependents do not have access to basic financial services. For example, only 11% of Indians in the state of Kerala -- a major exporter of labour -- have bank accounts. Transaction costs too can be high in some countries, as much as 3% per transaction in Central Asia.

Nandigram Massacre - dual face of the Marxists exposed

NANDIGRAM MASSACRE

Following the adage of Deng Xiao Peng that the colour of the cat is immaterial as long as it catches the mouse, the Marxist’s attempt in Bengal to usurp the fertile agricultural land of small peasants in the name of industrialization , from the very same people it has so far proclaimed to stand for and the subsequent exposure of ugly sequence of events so far in Nandhigram has sent shock waves across the country. Cracks have appeared not only among the coalition of the left front but also among the wider public. The noted intellectuals, artists and professionals have all condemned the state sponsored massacre of innocent agriculturists. This massacre has been condemned even by the constitutional authorities like the Governor of West Bengal and the National Human Rights Commission Chairman as well as the Kolkata High Court.. The reformer cum mass leader image of Buddhadev Bhattacharya crashed making him run from pillar to post seeking pardon day in and day out. Nandigram today is encircled by armed party cadre of CPI(M), who are terrorising the people. Despite the report of the Governor, the role of the central government is that of a mute spectator, encouraging the goons of CPI(M).

Nandigram symbolizes the wide spread resentment by small land owning peasants and their refusal to part with their livelihood earning asset inherited by generation after generation. Though the opposition and agitation is spread across the country, like POSCO in Orissa and Mangalore in Karnataka, Nandigram generated so much heat leading even to disruption of parliament and the subsequent debate putting the Marxists on the defensive. The nation started sensing the beginning of the end of Marxists Raj in Bengal.

Nandigram should be an eye-opener to other states involved in acquiring agricultural lands of small farmers in the name of SEZs. From IMF to the Finance Ministry all have pointed out the revenue loss of lakhs of crores year after year. It has also been pointed out that only shift in employment and relocation of industries will take place without addition to employment or productive capacity. The Approach paper to the 11^th Five year Plan of the Government of Maharastra has timely pointed out that the originators of the SEZs, namely the Chinese Government have admitted mainly real estate activities alone takes place in SEZs and the concept needs rethink.

The SJM fully shares the feelings of the people of Nandigram and assures that it will stand by them in this hour of crisis and in their valiant struggle to protect their livelihood. The SJM hopes that Nandigram will lead to two desirable things; exposure of the dual face of the Marxists and death to the concept of SEZs.

RESOLUTION NO. 3, Swadeshi jagarn Manch, 8^th ALL INDIA CONFERENCE, Indore

7 ^the TO 9 ^the DECEMBER, 2007