Drought, Policy and Politics in India: The Need for a Long-Term Perspective

"The book has achieved its objective in highlighting the manner in which drought-mitigation rather than drought-proofing, and the need to move from a crisis management strategy to an area development strategy with a perspective of maintaining ecological balance, has been the overriding concern of the policymakers. The book, therefore, can serve as a useful guide to planners, policymakers, and administrators." --Seminar Taking a unique ecological perspective, this study provides a public policy analysis of drought management in India. The authors trace the historical origins of existing policy to the colonial response to famines and related this to the post-independence strategy of development planning for the agrarian sector. They clearly outline the administrative and financial mechanism for drought mitigation, highlighting the politics of policy-making. The authors then show how the sanctioning of relief expenditures is often politically motivated. With its ecological approach, this important volume will be essential reading for those involved in development studies, public policy, public administration, and environmental studies. "Their study is a cogent argument for shifting the focus of development planning form the short term to the long term." --The Hindustan Times "The book is a useful contribution to the understanding of policy formulation." --The Book ReviewNiraja Gopal Jayal is the author of 'Drought, Policy and Politics in India: The Need for a Long-Term Perspective', published 1993 under ISBN 9780803991224 and ISBN 0803991223.