As long as we keep talking about the issue of liberalization, structural adjustment and now globalisation largely in terms of GNP, economic growth, competitiveness and such technical terms, we will continue to gloss over the the real issues and the dehumanisation and indignity that supposedly well meaning initiatives of the World Bank, IMF, WTO and such institutions can promote. Times were when, in the villages I know, there was not just enough to eat, but of adequate variety to ensure healthy growth for children and physical stamina for the adults. Children are hungry and listless most of the time, their mental and physical potential sabotaged and limited from childhood. Adults, physically weakened, are unable to concentrate their minds and to work long hours as they used to. Times were when schools had books and writing materials, teachers had motivation because they earned enough to live on and had respect in the local community.
Teachers have immediate grave survival needs to meet.
Time was when what the villager produced from the land had value. Now, thanks to the twin forces of deteriorating terms of trade and continuous devaluation and depreciation of local currencies, even buying salt, called common salt, in the developed economies is equivalent to a major investment decision, to be saved for over a long period. Time was when villagers could go to a hospital and get medicine for their ailments and when really ill they could count on a hospital bed and a blanket. The hospitals are empty of medicine, beds grossly inadequate, and cover a luxury. The enterpreneur could count on real return, on borrowing at affordable interest rates, on getting honest and trustful workers.