I was surprised to learn about the United Nation’s worsening financial situation during my recent visit to the UN General Assembly as member of the Indian delegation. It is struggling to receive obligatory contributions by several countries, including the global economic superpowers. The total amount of unpaid contributions in just the UN’s regular budget reached US$756 million and amounted to 40 per cent of total contributions in October 2008. For peacekeeping operations, the outstanding amount is a whopping US$2.9 billion. Remarkably, the biggest share of these defaults is borne by none other than the United States of America. The ongoing delay in receiving dues has begun to hurt UN’s activities including its peacekeeping missions, as the secretariat is no longer able to make payments to contributors of troops and equipment.

I am equally surprised at India’s parsimony. On one hand we are keen to assert our new status as an emerging superpower, on the other our contribution to the UN’s regular budget matches those of Third World countries. India contributes a mere US$9.5 million per year to the regular budget.

What surprises me even more is that we contribute a massive US$80 million per year for a large number of welfare schemes run by the UN. If we were to divert even half of this amount to the UN’s regular budget, the world would immediately start giving us our due respect. In any case, India’s participation in peacekeeping operations in many parts of the world and our huge population living in poverty together ensure that our country is ultimately a net beneficiary of UN’s budget. We receive some US$200 million a year from the UN under the World Food Program and for our participation in peacekeeping missions alone. In view of the financial and political interests at stake, I wonder why India has not voluntarily raised its obligatory contribution and at least matched China or Japan.

... contd.