Economist Sanjeev Sanyal has raised concerns about USAID’s participation in India’s health policies, warning that the agency’s influence extended beyond the elections. “We let them influence our national health responses,” he said, stressing the past role of Usaid in the National Health Survey (NFHS) of India.
In an article on X (formerly Twitter), Sanyal wrote: “People concerned about USAID interference in Indian elections should also be concerned about USAID tentacles in the medical system and social policies of social policies India. ” He stressed that USAID had effectively directed the NFHS from the 1990s until the Indian government took control two years ago.
“This is the most important medical data set in India and leads to a large part of the health policy. Not only do we authorize a foreign agency to harvest our medical data, but, by allowing them to design surveys and direct analysis, we let them influence our national health responses, “added Sanyal.
He also said that the NFHS questionnaire was biased to push certain stories, declaring: “The questionnaire for men, for example, is only 29 pages but that for women is 94 pages. Many additional questions are deliberately formulated to cause a story of intra-family violence against Indian women. Must say, very slyly done. »»
Sanyal recalled that he and the late Bibek Debroy had publicly opposed the involvement of Usaid in the NFHS. “Fortunately, Goi has taken up the question and the last NFHS is in itself. Note that readers can check what I say easily because everything has been done in sight, “he added.
On February 16, Sanyal described USAID as “the largest scam in human history” after revelations on its funding in South Asia. He Referenced Findings from the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), LED by Elon Musk, Which Revealed that Usaid Had Spent $ 21 million on improving voting turnout in India, $ 29 million on strengthening bangladesh’s political landscape, and $ 29 million on enhancing nepal’s federalism . “Where did these $ 21 million go?” Questioned Sanyal.
