'India can revert to 8-9% growth in 2-3 years'

India's growth rate could revert to the pre-global crisis level of 8-9 per cent in two to three years by intensifying the recent economic reforms initiatives, internationally acclaimed economist Jagdish Bhagwati has said.

"I would say if they stick with the measures they have undertaken and intensify them further...I think if you do think of that sort, then we could get back to 8-9 per cent GDP growth in 2-3 years," Bhagwati, who is a professor of economics and law at Columbia University, told PTI.

India had been growing around 8-9 per cent before theglobal financial meltdown of 2008. The growth rate in 2011-12 slipped to nine-year low of 6.5 per cent.

Recently, the government had liberalised FDI policy in retail, aviation and approved changes in the banking and insurance laws, with higher FDI limits.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said India's economy should expand by 5.5-6

per cent this year.

"All I can say is this year we will probably hover around 5.5-5.6 per cent or may be 6 per cent if things pick up in third and fourth quarters.

This year is practically set and no major dramatic changes can be expected this year," Chidambaram had told PTI.

On growth versus welfare debate, Bhagwati said,"People like Amartya Sen and Mehbus ul Ha used to say growth won't influence poverty. Now, it is clear that growth did influence poverty."

"Until 1991, it was reasonable to argue that growth would influence poverty. After 1991, we could say that clearly, growth has the capacity to pull more people into gainful employment. I call it the pull-up affect, not trickle down," the Columbia University professor added.

Bhagwati with his colleague at Columbia University Arvind Panagariya in their recent book "India's Tryst with Destiny: Debunking Myths that Undermine Progress and Addressing New Challenges" have addressed growth vs welfare debate.