On the brink

Although finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has put up a brave face on the economy, evidence that it is on the skids can`t be glossed over any more. The industrial growth rate was a mere 0.1% in April, after falling to -3.2% in March. The fall in overall GDP growth has begun showing up in shrinking employment numbers, with jobs in labour-intensive industries such as textiles being hit particularly badly. Like the threatened downgrade of India`s investment rating by global agency Standard & Poor`s, the finance minister`s reassurances too could acquire junk status unless backed by vigorous government action.

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