Letters: An answer to India's poverty

This refers to T N Ninan's column "The big one" (Weekend Ruminations, March 23). For argument's sake, even if we consider that the food security Bill is implemented in a manner that the entire government spending reaches the deserving beneficiaries, it is not a solution for eradicating poverty. The Bill is akin to treating the symptom rather than the root cause of a disease. India's poverty is primarily a result of illiteracy and lack of adequate health facilities. Although budgetary allocations towards education and health care are being increased every year, the desired results are not being achieved. This is because the allocations are either not being effectively used or are grossly inadequate or both. According to a recent report by Accountability Initiative, a wing of the Centre for Policy Research, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan spending was only 61 per cent in 2011-12. The government, therefore, should shift its focus to ensuring that the entire budgeted amount on education is spent effectively, so that the literacy level is raised from the current 74.04 per cent (according to the 2011 census). Government spending on health care is also poor (less than five per cent of the gross domestic product) compared to other BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations. More resources need to be channelled to this critical area, which if neglected, can prove detrimental to the country's growth prospects. On the other hand, legislation like the food security Bill will only add to the already burgeoning fiscal burden.

V Sridhar Kolkata

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number