NEW DELHI- Embarrassment of Riches

Embarrassment of Riches THE experienced and highly sophisticated group of 'aid diplomats' in New Del hi currently find themselves in somewhat of a quandary. Their task was never easy, especially in the last lew years of what is euphemistically called deterioration in the aid climate. But they brought to bear on their aid solicitation a degree of ingenuity and refinement which was impressive. This is testified by the higher quantum of aid inflow in the last three years in particular, even in the lace of so many political impediments. They were naturally elated when the World Bank- gave a public chit applauding the good management of the economy last year. Unlike the past practice of World Bank reports being kept confidential, it was mutually agreed to give this report wide publicity. This was expected to overcome the so-called aid-weariness in the donor countries and to counter propaganda that aid-receiving countries were squandering concessional aid and that, especially in the ease of India, aid was going into a bottomless pit.