Why is India Still a Recipient of British Aid Money...

[Beer in The Evening?]

... when it's developing a space program?

[Chippy Minton]

If you're going to get your news from The Express, at least bother to read the whole article.

The reason is: "development aid is earmarked for specific purposes like tackling child malnutrition, providing malaria bednets and secondary education for Dalit girls." - http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/340287/We-pay-for-India-s-rocket-to-Mars

[Michael Palaeologus]

The answer, as heard by me from DFID staff is that there is a UK Government perception that the aid programme will give us some influence with the Indian Government.

DFID also run programmes that are focussed on groups that the Indian Government would not touch e.g sexual health education and support to Indian sex workers. Not a glamorous project, but one that I think is laudable.

Of course the Express would have a dickie fit about this, all the more reason to support the cause.

[bon3yard]

...maybe they could use this space programme to catapult these Aid scroungers out of the earths orbit, by any luck they'll be orbitting Uranus by December. LOL.

[Beer in The Evening?]

@ Michael Palaeologus

You'd support needless expenditure simply to spite a newspaper? Breathtaking. Regardless, why should the British taxpayer fund groups focused on raising awareness for sexual health in India? Surely such responsibilities should rest on the shoulders of the Indian government/taxpayer?

@ Chippy Minton

I don't read the Express.

[Undisputedtruth]

There are still high levels of poverty in India which needs addressing. The space pragramme is an entirely different issue. India needs to develop their industries as one of the solutions to tackle poverty.

Let's not forget India's contribution to the empire and exploitation of Indian workers.

[Jeremy]

India, despite huge growth, is a still very poor country, with hundreds of millions living in conditions inconceivable to most westerners. The aid is justifiable. But yes, it is disappointing that the government would choose to spend money on a space program when people are starving, and the infrastructure is in such a bad state.

[Jeremy]

To back up what UDT mentioned - let's not forget that the high-tech industry is a key area of the Indian economy... perhaps they see money to be made in the future, with the increasing commercialization of space.

Any why focus on a ?50M space program, ignoring a defence budget in the tens of billions?

[Beer in The Evening?]

@ Undisputedtruth

There are indeed high levels of of poverty that need addressing... by the Indian government. If they've got the cash and the wherewithal to fund a space program, they've clearly got enough to begin addressing issues like poverty without assistance from the UK. They sought independence from Britain, so they should carry the responsibility that entails.

[Beer in The Evening?]

@ Jeremy

I focused on their developing space program because it so clearly illustrates that they should no longer be seeking financial and/or material aid from the UK. It's analogous with the Dept. of Work & Pensions withdrawing benefits from claimants who are proven to be no longer reliant on benefits.

[????]

They sought independence from Britain, so they should carry the responsibility that entails.

We sought conquering them and growing rich on them for 200 years so we should carry the responsibillity that entails

[Beer in The Evening?]

So Britain should be financially responsible for all of its former territories? In that case, Australia and Canada are due a massive payout.

[StraferJack]

As this story made teh front page of the Express and no other national paper, but you didn't read it BiTE, where exactly DID you come across this story anyway?

[LondonLogCo]

Here we go

(again)

Tip tap

[Beer in The Evening?]

@ StraferJack

The Telegraph. Not exactly a fringe outlet.

[Beer in The Evening?]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9480279/India-is-heading-for-Mars-it-doesnt-need-British-aid-money-to-pay-the-bills.html#

[Brendan]

It was in the independent too.

[Undisputedtruth]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> They sought independence from Britain, so they

> should carry the responsibility that entails.

>

> We sought conquering them and growing rich on them

> for 200 years so we should carry the

> responsibillity that entails

So true. They also undermined India's world class textile industries at the time. http://fyeahnoamchomsky.tumblr.com/post/24369122415/standard-economic-history-recognizes-that-state

[Salsaboy]

They aren't part of the British Empire anymore? Have I missed something here?

[Beer in The Evening?]

Past generations were also complicit in killing and displacing numerous indigenous tribes in Canada, Australia and South Africa. They plundered their territories, too. Does that mean these countries are eligible for aid as well? Accepting responsibility for the sins of our fathers across the board would almost certainly prove to be a costly mistake.

[BrandNewGuy]

Undisputedtruth Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> India needs to develop

> their industries as one of the solutions to tackle

> poverty.

Really? That's highly debatable. From Gandhi through EF Schumacher, the micro-credit movement and beyond, many would argue that "appropriate technology" would be most useful for the poor of India. Enriching the Indian middle class is probably not useful to the poor.

[bon3yard]

...dont forget the Maltese.

[DJKillaQueen]

Tbf ?50million is a drop in the ocean compared to most space programmes. It might also be that some of the money is coming from private or foreign investment too. We don't know.

India, as pointed out above, has huge problems with real poverty. But at the same time it is a country that is developing successfully. Compare that to China, another country with huge levels of real poverty. Often, aid is required because of the lack of willingness for a government to engage in a social welfare programme, and some governments even take advantage of the fact that aid exists, to ignore their responsibilities (some preferring the maintenance of eternal war to the improvement of their economy and conditions for their people).

[Undisputedtruth]

Let us not forget how Britain sold opium to China in the 19th century and built hospitals, bridges and railways from the proceeds.

[Beer in The Evening?]

Er, so? Opium was a widely-sought commodity in the 19th century. Not forgetting that its trade was perfectly legal, and any profit made from it. Should we seek indemnity from the Wright brothers' descendents, seeing as their ancestors' creation has lead to so much pollution?