| Publication |
2009.
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| Summary/Abstract |
The rise of India as the next Asian economic giant has become synonymous with that of the information technology (IT) sector. IT has become one of India's largest exports and revenue earners, and the expansion of the IT sector has helped to shape the growth of a new middle class free from the inhibitions that shackled the old one, and which is highly visible.1 While the consumption behaviour of this new class has created demand for a wide range of products and services, there has been growing debate that the marginalised poor have not benefited because of the paucity of resources allocated to basic public infrastructure and amenities.2 Although the government has launched a series of programmes aimed at reducing poverty, it continues to exist.3 And the poor are not happy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headlined its campaign for the June 2004 general election 'India Shining'. It lost to the Congress Party. Some of the BJP's major regional state allies such as the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) in the state of Andhra Pradesh also lost state elections held at the same time.
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