Across the aisle: Nyay for the very poor

We can be legitimately proud that millions of people have escaped the vicious grip of poverty.

lok sabha elections, lok sabha elections 2019, congress, rahul gandhi, nyay, nyuntam aay yojana, poverty, poor people, universal basic income, ubi, indian economy, arvind subramanian, nda government, central government, indian express news — The vast majority of the people of India were always poor. (Representational Image)

Finally, a political party has found the courage to bite the bullet. For too long we have ducked the issue, declined to face the moral argument, and trotted out excuses for our unwillingness to take radical measures to eliminate poverty.

The vast majority of the people of India were always poor. (I could be accused of being anti-national.) We were very poor at the time of Independence. The per capita income (at prices then prevailing) was Rs 247. Few had jobs outside agriculture. Literacy was at 17 per cent. Life expectancy at birth was 32 years. All these indicators pointed to massive and widespread poverty.

In 72 years, all indicators have improved. Millions have moved out of agriculture and hold jobs in the organised sector. The literacy rate is 73 per cent, life expectancy at birth is 68 years and per capita income at current prices (2018) is Rs 1,12,835.

Fifth column: ‘Rahul Gandhi is wrong to believe his NYAY is going to make a difference’