Topic : Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
3. Do you think India needs to recall its ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan of the early 1970s? Discuss in what way Anti-poverty programmes must be universal, not just on a below or above poverty line matrix. (250 words)
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
The article presents to us a detailed critical analysis of the efforts of the govt. on the anti-poverty program front.
Key Demand of the question:
Analyse and opine if India needs to recall its ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan again and explain in what way Anti-poverty programmes must be universal, not just on a below or above poverty line matrix.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Present key statistics highlighting the poverty situation in the country.
Body:
Discuss critically the issues associated with definition of poverty in the country. Our development schemes continue to target a section of people referred to as below the poverty line (BPL), identified years ago. Second, going by all economic indicators of recent years, it is certain that a large section of the country remains poor or is not able to reach a decent level of living. Third, if despite investing so much political and monetary capital, the development indicator is not positive, then we need to reassess our anti-poverty programmes. This is also because there is a section of the population in a certain geography who remain poor despite decades of focused intervention.
Discuss the current and past anti-poverty programmes and the lacunae in it.
Suggest what needs to be done to overcome the issues and concerns associated with the existing approach.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Poverty is a concern for both, rural and urban areas, for BPL and above poverty line people. If it is not addressed now, it would undo whatever we have achieved in the last 70 years.
