Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Big boost to rural India” (February 3). For the Mahatma, ‘Swaraj’ had real meaning if relief reaches to the poor. However, it is disheartening that successive Congress Governments were negligent of this marginalised section of the society.
It did roll out the MGNREGA scheme, which was meant for this class, but it ended up as an entitlement rather than a creator of productive assets in rural areas, to perpetuate employment machinery on stable basis, and to provide relief to rural poor on permanent basis. The Modi Government has in the current Budget, overhauled this policy and emphasised on creating productive assets rather than giving doles.