tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post3178593937905528696..comments2024-02-29T13:07:00.519+00:00Comments on Development Horizons by Lawrence Haddad: The Odisha Chief Minister does not visit IDS: A Tale of Politics, Rights and NutritionLawrence Haddadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17265061444076801962noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post-64207879826871126352012-06-07T13:24:45.267+01:002012-06-07T13:24:45.267+01:00Yeah by the logic talked about here, IDS would hav...Yeah by the logic talked about here, IDS would have collaborated with Hitler too to tackle 'poverty' in Germany!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post-27802610834322412752012-06-05T15:17:07.546+01:002012-06-05T15:17:07.546+01:00Thank you, Lawrence, for the exemplary way in whic...Thank you, Lawrence, for the exemplary way in which ou dealt with this difficult issue, and for the transparency. Carlos FortinCarlos Fortinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07296234639956528271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post-12682693042041409572012-06-05T09:10:28.596+01:002012-06-05T09:10:28.596+01:00Richard, thank you for your reflections. I fully ...Richard, thank you for your reflections. I fully agree with your three points which are testimony to your long experience in dealing with such issues. <br /><br />And Roberto, thanks for your reflections too. I must say I was impressed by how the IDS students handled the episode--they made their views known but in a way that was not damaging to IDS.Lawrence Haddadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17265061444076801962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post-48728795341155076792012-06-04T20:28:45.916+01:002012-06-04T20:28:45.916+01:00Although it was not explicitly intended as such, I...Although it was not explicitly intended as such, I find Lawrence's post a good example of an exercise of transparency and accountability: an effort to reflect on a highly political event even though it was going to take place in an academic setting.<br /><br />I found interesting the way Lawrence managed the situation within IDS (receiving and acknowledging information about the CM from DfID and IDS) outside IDS (broadening the information with HR groups) and with the CM (clearly informing what the situation would be if they were going to IDS, and at the same time, insisting on willingness of the IDS community to meet the CM and the important of the key issue-nutrition in Orisha-for IDS). <br /><br />All this might be regarded as normal and expected behavior, not necessarily to be acknowledged, in democratic societies, but this is not always the case-even in democracies.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />Roberto Castellanos (MP22).Roberto Castellanoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01161850519024801700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post-36218938546769547482012-06-04T11:12:36.912+01:002012-06-04T11:12:36.912+01:00My comment is the one above, which was not intende...My comment is the one above, which was not intended to be anonymous.Richard Jollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335146197342151188.post-68439854574184954012012-06-04T11:07:00.963+01:002012-06-04T11:07:00.963+01:00From my UNICEF as well as IDS experience, I think ...From my UNICEF as well as IDS experience, I think Lawrence has laid out the issues very well, and for three further reasons.<br />First, the long-run importance of reductions of malnutrition in young children should not be underestimated. These will strengthen the minds and capacities of children over the whole of their lives, long beyond any period during which the present Chief Minister is in power and almost certainly most of his successors.<br />Secondly, human rights do matter, but these include, let us remember, the combating of ‘disease and malnutrition’, as set out in article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.<br />Thirdly, as I learnt in UNICEF, it is hardly ever effective politics or logical ethics to rule out any relationship with someone in power, on the grounds that the person is violating some important human right. But engagement should not be passive acceptance but serious debate and persuasion, publicly, privately or both, depending on what is judged to be the most effective. <br />Lawrence shows how this can be done and it is a pity and a shame that the Chief Minister decided not to come to IDS and to join in just such discussion and debate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com