In ‘surgical’ strike on poverty, Cong pledges Rs 72k/yr to each poor family

Forty-eight-year after Indira Gandhi came to power in 1971 on the ear-catching slogan of “Garibi hatao”, her grandson Rahul Gandhi has reinvented the same theme by announcing his own version of “surgical” strike on poverty to revive the Congress fortune in the Lok Sabha elections.

As part of the Congress manifesto for general elections, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said 20 per cent families in poorest of the poor category will be given Rs 72,000 each annually as a minimum income.

Making the announcement at a Press conference post the Congress Working Committee meeting, the Congress chief said, “The time for change has come. This will be a ‘final assault’ to eradicate poverty in the country.”

The party manifesto is being framed by a committee headed by former Finance and Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Citing the examples of farmers’ loan waiver schemes in three States — Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh — the Gandhi scion said if the party is voted to power the Congress will identify such families who live below the poverty mark and help them to live decent life. He said the scheme is part of the party’s plan to ensure minimum income guarantee to every person in the country.

Terming it to be a “final assault” to eradicate poverty in the country, Rahul described the manifesto as a “historic” and “groundbreaking” measure to end poverty. “Five crore families and 25 crore people will directly benefit from the scheme. The final assault on poverty has begun. We will wipe out poverty from the country. I promise that there will be justice for the poor. The Congress guarantees that 20 per cent families belonging to poorest of the poor category in India will be given Rs 72,000 each annually,” Rahul said soon after starting social media campaign #NyayForIndia.

The CWC had met at the AICC headquarters to discuss and give final shape to the party’s manifesto. The Congress chief said the party has studied the fiscal implications of the scheme and has consulted renowned economists and experts before finalising it.

“This is a historic scheme which has not happened anywhere in the world. It is an extremely powerful, ground-breaking and well-thought through idea. We have consulted many economists on the scheme. It will be a fiscally prudent scheme,” Rahul said

Accusing the Prime Minister of giving money to the rich and not the poor, Rahul alleged the poor have suffered in the last five years and “We are going to provide justice to them”. “If Narendra Modi can give money to the rich people in the country, then Congress can give the poor this money,” he said.

“Narendra Modi is creating two Indias in the country and we will not allow it, there will be only one India,” he said.

Asked where the money will come from and whether it will affect the economy, Rahul claimed there is enough money in India and the Congress guarantees that 20 per cent poorest families will be given Rs 72,000 per year.

“Remember that in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, I had promised that in 10 days farmers will be given a loan waiver. I am promising you today that justice will be done. Scheme will be on a phase basis. First a pilot project will be run then scheme will run,” he said. He claimed that everyday your money is being taken away and “we will show you what is happening. We have been studying this for the last 4-5 months”.

The working committee, which is the party’s highest decision-making body, will give a final go-ahead to the manifesto. The meeting was chaired by Rahul and attended by former PM Manmohan Singh, Priyanka Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, and AK Antony.

The Congress has involved people from different sections of the society and has held several rounds of consultations with them to include their views in the manifesto. It has also launched an online portal to seek the views of people and their expectations from the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The top party leaders have promised to make the manifesto a comprehensive document that will include views of all sections.