Poverty alleviation programmes in India remain mere showpieces until and unless they are backed up by political will. “Discuss with reference to the performance of major poverty alleviation programmes in India.
Ambedkar best understood the importance of administration in governance. He acknowledged that it was perfectly possible for the government to subvert the constitution without a formal amendment. The same rings true for government programmes and policies. They remain as mere covenants without swords until and unless backed by strong political will.
Post-independence India ventured on the path of growth and development through planned rapid industrialization. There was strong political resolve to bring in development and uplift the millions out of poverty. The slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ mesmerized the Indian masses who gave a clear mandate in favor of the programme. Albeit with deficiencies, the Indian government took up lots of socialistic and redistributive initiatives during the 1970 s. However, stagnating growth and the absence of free market enterprises had their toll. Post-liberalization the government has acted as a facilitator and provided an enabling environment from growth and development.
Some programmes which have been key in poverty alleviation are,
- Twenty Point Programme (TPP):
TPP announced in 1975, has been twice restructured since then. It is a comprehensive programme which aims to improve the quality of life of the poor and underprivileged.
- National Food for work programme:
Launched in 2004, it covers 100 most backward districts to provide supplementary wage employment and ensure food security.
- Minimum Needs Programme:
It was launched in 5th FYP (1974-78) to provide for certain basic minimum needs and improve the standard of living.
- Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS):-
Launched in June 1997, TDPS aimed to provide food grains to poor.
- National Food Security Act (NFSA):
TDPS has paved way for NFSA, Rights based legislation which provides for subsidized food grains and covers more than 50% of the Indian population.
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
It is the flagship programme of the government which provides for 100 days of guaranteed wage employment. Launched by the UPA the programme it has found increased allocations from the NDA Regime as well.
In India, successive governments have carried forward the anti-poverty programmes launched by previous governments. There has been a universal consensus regarding the anti-poverty orientation across political spectrum. There has been a rare instance of find starvation for any programme due to change in political climate. Most poverty alleviation programmes have been backed with strong political will and the programmes have widened their reach and scope.
The current Rights Based Approach (RBA) has empowered the poor and weeded out the vagaries of political propensities. It is worth remembering that Governance (read Poverty-alleviation Programme) is too serious a thing to be left only to politicians.
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