Panagariya calls for tackling general legacy issues

Outgoing Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya made a strong case for reforms in bureaucracy, police and judiciary, saying these general legacy issues will have to be addressed for sustained growth in the long term.
Panagariya said that although the general reforms may not be necessary to achieve 8-9 per cent growth, they ought be to undertaken for "the good of people".
"The whole civil services, judiciary, police, these are all long standing issues which need to be tackled. All of these don't have to be solved to get 8-9 per cent growth, but in the longer run for the good of people, we do need reform in bureaucracy, police, judiciary," he told PTI.

Asked if his exit at this juncture will affect reforms, Panagariya said, "Reforms do not happen because of single individuals, certainly not one who is not on the top. Single individual does matter, but that is the person at the very top level. Who is the prime minister is ultimately determines course of the policy."
Panagariya is scheduled to leave Niti Aayog on August 31 and will be succeeded by well-known economist Rajiv Kumar.