Economist Jean Dreze dropped from speakers’ list at govt conference

Jean Dreze, a noted economist who was a member of Sonia Gandhi led National Advisory Council (NAC), was dropped from the list of speakers at the Delhi Economics Conclave organised by the Finance Ministry and inaugurated by PM Modi.

Dreze, who was to speak at the conference on government’s pet schemes of Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM trinity), later put his speech on a news portal in which he spoke of dangers fraught in government’s push for high-tech cash transfers as a foundation for social policy.

In an email the economist said he was informed of his name being dropped from the panel of speakers at the conference two days ago. “...I am deeply disappointed, and also concerned that the Conclave has turned into a mutual appreciation society with everyone on the same side,” Dreze said.