Free distribution of grains to 80 crore people is ‘ambitious failure’, not empowerment: Shashi Tharoor

“In India, this means redistributing wealth to lift up those at the bottom of the pyramid. Now, we also see the government boasting about providing food grains to 80 crore people. But that should be seen as an ambitious failure, in the sense that we haven’t empowered them enough to buy their own food. It masks many other problems, though,” the Congress leader said.

Tharoor pointed out that people in India tend to align with “autocratic” administrations that deliver. “There is a growing tendency for governments to control institutions that should be independent or participatory, which is a worrying trend in many countries, including India. Leaders like Orban, Modi, and Erdogan are essentially determined to control autonomous institutions,” he stated.

“People in India, for example, often say they want a government that delivers, and that’s why they tolerate some of the autocratic tendencies. It is about delivery. When the government delivers the goods—redistributive policies, better conditions for the common man—people may look past some of the deficiencies in the system,” Tharoor said.

On criticism against institutions like the United Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) for conflict and Covid-19 mismanagement, he said, “The UN is often criticised for its perceived ineffectiveness, particularly during the Ukraine war and in the Syrian conflict. But we shouldn’t judge the UN solely based on its inability to resolve such crises. Look at its success in tackling global issues like climate change, human trafficking, and drug abuse—problems that transcend borders.”

“The UN and its agencies remain essential in tackling issues that require global cooperation. Could we have dealt with Covid-19 without the WHO? Likely not. Could the WHO have done better? Yes, but the challenges faced by international institutions stem from limitations built into their design,” the former diplomat said.

Tharoor mentioned that the relevance of these institutions stems from the fact that they “provide a platform for all countries to come together and cooperate for common outcomes. Their effectiveness, however, varies depending on the issue and the time. For example, the World Bank and the IMF are key in addressing economic turbulence, but they have their own challenges.”

“The World Trade Organization’s dispute resolution mechanism is currently crippled due to the American boycott. The IMF, while still playing a role, is increasingly seen as having a marginal role in managing the global economy,” he said.