Inputs for Lok sabha election manifesto Part I The poverty line and subsidy
Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji in a recent interview to Aaj Tak stated that there are enormous funds under Delhi government and once corruption is curbed, the real benefits will wipe off many ills of the society.
The Planning Commission has been playing with the poverty line and subsidy figures, thanks to Harvard-educated Vice-chairman at the helm of affairs.
As per the data available from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation (http://www.business-standard.com/content/general_pdf/112513_02.pdf), the total subsidies in FY 13 worked out to be whopping Rs 5,75,253 crores or 40 % of the total expenditure of FY13. In Q1 FY14, total subsidies account for an eye-watering 7.16 per cent of GDP or 46 per cent of government expenditure. (http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/rajiv-shastri-the-subsidy-devil-is-in-the-detail-113112400681_1.html). But as per budget, it is shown as Rs 2,57,654 crores. Consider the huge administrative costs. So much about the bungling of this UPA government.
According to the recent Mckinsey Global Institute’s survey (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/McKinsey-pegs-poverty-line-at-Rs-1336-per-month/articleshow/30691907.cms), 68 crore people are under poverty as against the ad hoc figure of 32.3 crores spun out by the Planning Commission. If the 90 % the subsidies of Rs 575253 crores reach the poor masses, the real income of the poor people will rise by Rs 600 per month and one third of them will come above poverty line. In next 5 years, we can wipe out poverty from our land. This is possible more so if a part of this subsidies is ploughed into income generation and job creation developmental activities. No poor wants to be at the receiving end.
AAP should focus on this issue as one of the election agenda. We can discuss it in finer detail to the select AAP leadership. more
The Planning Commission has been playing with the poverty line and subsidy figures, thanks to Harvard-educated Vice-chairman at the helm of affairs.
As per the data available from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation (http://www.business-standard.com/content/general_pdf/112513_02.pdf), the total subsidies in FY 13 worked out to be whopping Rs 5,75,253 crores or 40 % of the total expenditure of FY13. In Q1 FY14, total subsidies account for an eye-watering 7.16 per cent of GDP or 46 per cent of government expenditure. (http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/rajiv-shastri-the-subsidy-devil-is-in-the-detail-113112400681_1.html). But as per budget, it is shown as Rs 2,57,654 crores. Consider the huge administrative costs. So much about the bungling of this UPA government.
According to the recent Mckinsey Global Institute’s survey (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/McKinsey-pegs-poverty-line-at-Rs-1336-per-month/articleshow/30691907.cms), 68 crore people are under poverty as against the ad hoc figure of 32.3 crores spun out by the Planning Commission. If the 90 % the subsidies of Rs 575253 crores reach the poor masses, the real income of the poor people will rise by Rs 600 per month and one third of them will come above poverty line. In next 5 years, we can wipe out poverty from our land. This is possible more so if a part of this subsidies is ploughed into income generation and job creation developmental activities. No poor wants to be at the receiving end.
AAP should focus on this issue as one of the election agenda. We can discuss it in finer detail to the select AAP leadership. more
Viewed by 1138
View all 16 comments Below 16 comments
Burning Issues. (1) Corruption (2) Media Reform & Promotion of excellence of the media- to be done Internal, self-regulatory NEVER External. (3) Women Reservation. (4) Women Safety. (5) Reform of Unorganized labour sector. (6) Composite Rural Housing Development & Rural Sanitation. In this IIT's to be given incentive to do R&D in building affordable rural houses, using mostly local building material, & providing sanitation solutions. Production of bio-gas for cooking & generation of electricity to serve local energy needs. Some Corporate Houses, under their CSR Schemes may be requested to adopt some strategically located villages. (7) Spread of Computer Education in villages and setting up Computer Learning Centers at Panchayat level. (8) Infrastructure Development. (9) Improvement of Justice delivery system in providing to the Courts the required resources to clear back log of pending cases. (9) Power Sector Reforms so that efficient & affordable electricity is available to all. (!0) Water supply. (11) Educational reforms. (12) Health Care. (13) Development of Solar Energy, urban & rural. (14) Student & Youth issues. (15) Agriculture sector including cattle improvement. more
Feb 21
Many people criticise Arvind Kejriwal and AAP, may be just to prove that they know politics and nation building better. They try to prove that they are elite, well versed in all fields and are way ahead in debating, guiding and approving the traditional way of governance, with a right to criticize and applaud here and there. They have a very good helicopter view of society and Indian fabric but would not allow their helicopter to land on the raw fields to have a close look of the ills at its roots. Kejriwal attacks head on at the roots and therefore, either the opponents ignore him speechlessly and laughably or try to find faults with his ways and means, diverting and missing the real substance. On the other hand, Indian public are showing more sense of understanding and therefore, they are aligning more and more with Kejriwal and AAP. One Arvind Kejriwal may succeed or fail but the Indian democracy and people will win and many Kejriwals will arise from nowhere out of this churning. more
Feb 21
