Shashi Tharoor Sounds Alarm: Even the UN Struggles With Inequality
At GIM Invest Karnataka 2025, Tharoor Highlights Global Economic Divide, Urges Radical Reforms
Pramod
Bengaluru - Congress MP and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, delivered a hard-hitting speech at the "Global Investors' Meet (GIM Karnataka-25)" on Friday, stating that even the United Nations has been struggling with inequality and disparity. His remarks underscored the urgent need for global reform in governance and economic structures.
Tharoor highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains and how world leaders have since prioritized national interests over collaborative solutions. "The pandemic revealed deep-seated fractures in the global economic order. Nations are now focusing more on strengthening their domestic capabilities rather than addressing international disparities," he stated.
India’s Economic Struggles in Focus
Tharoor also turned the spotlight on India’s domestic challenges, pointing out that despite welfare programs like free food distribution for 80 crore citizens, purchasing power remains alarmingly low. "India’s poverty levels persist despite government interventions. We need a strategic shift to empower citizens economically," he added.
His most urgent call was for a radical transformation of India's education system to prepare youth for the future job market, particularly in the wake of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation advancements. "With 30% of global jobs expected to become obsolete in the next five years due to AI and automation, India must revamp its education framework," Tharoor warned.
He emphasized the necessity of fostering critical thinking in educational institutions, advocating for a shift from rote learning to a model that teaches students "how to think" rather than "what to think."
Lessons from Greece’s Economic Collapse
Adding an international perspective, former Greek Prime Minister George A. Papandreou echoed Tharoor’s concerns, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in governance. He cited Greece’s economic collapse as a cautionary tale of mismanagement. "Public funds were not directed toward public welfare. Instead, politicians prioritized retaining power, which inevitably led to economic disaster," Papandreou remarked.
The session was moderated by Lakshmi Praturi, founder and CEO of Ink Talk, and provided a platform for intense discussions on the global economic divide, governance failures, and the urgency of educational reform.
As India seeks to position itself as a global leader in innovation and investment, voices like Tharoor’s serve as a stark reminder that systemic challenges must be tackled head-on to ensure sustainable growth.
