We have an unusual chance to see how international social programs work in the US. New Orleans, reduced to a third world country by Katrina, has demonstrated the same principles. If people complain of a humanitarian disaster, the "Benefactors" will raise the money through taxes (largely covered by middle class these days), then pay their friends to do the work. Then the process requires that they don't actually do something, because the next project won't get funded unless there is a problem.
Cuckoo's call
Many, many children die each day in India at a very young age, succumbing to entirely avoidable gastrointestinal and waterborne diseases because of lack of availability of clean water and basic sanitation. Each of their lives is too precious to be insulted by putting large numbers to this, which only serves to deaden one's sensitivity. But the numbers are indeed very large.
However urban water-sanitation is a very big business globally. Beginning with agencies such as the World Bank, ADB, DFID etc, there is a long chain of vested interests, including consultancy companies, engineering companies, research agencies, developing country politicians, bureaucrats, contractors, NGOs - who are all well-nourished by the water-sanitation largesse. Such projects originate with the goal of ensuring basic water availability and sanitation to all. However, once completed, though the project is deemed to be successful, and everyone in the chain is happy (and paid) - the basic goal of the projects - water sanitation to the poor - continues to remain as elusive as ever.
The inherent structure, design and way of functioning of this chain of water-sanitation 'beneficiaries' - ensures that the basic goal will never be fulfilled. And the people for whom all this effort is directed - do not figure anywhere. Simple low-cost and tertiary-level solutions and initiatives, requiring an attitudinal shift - do not have any hope of materialising, because the expensive, beneficiary chain-gratifying solutions are so much more attractive in every way.
In 1992, following the critique of the Narmada Valley Dams Project, the World Bank had appointed the Morse Committee, and also initiated another review of its loan disbursement procedures. These reports severely critiqued the World Bank's loan-related decision-making and processes. Eventually the World Bank stopped its funding of the Narmada project.
Water-sanitation (WAT-SAN) - is a magic mantra for World Bank and other institutions. Huge amounts of money are spent on this - and at the end of the day everybody goes home happy, World Bank officers, politicians, bureaucrats, consultants, contractors (NGOs too) - but the poor children continue to die. A huge international scam. "Everybody is justified, nobody is just..."
1 comment:
Hullo Dave
Thanks indeed for visiting my blog and picking up this story. When the fact of the WAT-SAN scam crystallised suddenly in my head - in 1999, in Tel Aviv, at a consulting company's office - I was trembling with rage!
Another interesting story about the World Bank. A close friend (who must remain un-named) works in the World Bank. He told me about his experience with a former head of the Bank. That man's agenda in his job was to lay the ground for his future political career, read the US presidency. So all decisions were steered by this agenda: to gratify various interests so that they would reciprocate when the time came in future. Unfortunately my friend tried to be a spoke in the wheel, trying to raise rational objections etc. He got it so badly - he had to have bypass surgery - that he's learnt his lesson!
Some years ago I met a venerable elderly gentlemen from New York who had worked in a senior position with USAID. He told me that the entire functioning of USAID was about pleasing the pals of Bill and Al!
Lack of accountability - explains such things. Not that holding such agencies to account is not possible, but no one actually does it. Activists in the US must look at what the World Bank is doing, citizens of UK must look at how DFID's money is going down the drain and so on. Until then we must enjoy the intricate charms of these agencies!
Recently I watched a presentation on New Orleans by my friends Ron Schiffman and Roberta Gratz. That was most illuminating and moving. I shall email you a picture of a poster from their presentation.
best
rama
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