Conclusion and Way Forward

Learning from the expertise of each other is a mantra to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Globalization offers many benefits, including economic integration, open market, and also people-to-people connection. India and South Africa had opened their market to integrate with the world economy. In the last few decades, both countries have benefited greatly from openness. This concluding chapter calls attention to the need for the expansion of programs and policies adopted by India and South Africa to walk on the path of sustainable development to meet the end goals of human development. This chapter explores the programs and policies implemented by the respective governments in India and South Africa for the upliftment of the deprived population. It also examines the strengths and weaknesses of policies and schemes adopted. To some extent, this study addresses the puzzle; despite the high growth rate, why is India’s performance lower than South Africa’s in terms of social indicators? It does so by drawing attention to welfare approaches. The empowerment of an individual is dependent on human capital. The level of education and well-being depends on decent income generated from employment opportunities. The finding suggests that with improvements in health, education, and income, a rise in purchasing power can be anticipated on the demand side. On the supply side, public spending on education and health is indispensable for the enhancement of human capabilities.