Letters: To alleviate poverty

This refers to A K Bhattacharya's column "Chasing the growth dream" (New Delhi Diary, January 21). As the author has indicated, for the economy to grow at 10 per cent continuously for the next 25 years, is a tall expectation. The Indian economy today is not a stand-alone economy and it is rapidly integrating with the world economy. Therefore, whatever happens in the rest of the world has a direct impact on our economy. The world economy in the foreseeable future, say the next 10 years, would do well if it can achieve an average growth rate in the region of 3 per cent. The leaders have a right to dream, as the author has said, but not daydream.

Such talks of growth mostly emanate from the burning issue of poverty alleviation. The fiscal policy, monetary policy, effective social upliftment programmes, if administered properly, can reduce the poverty level substantially. After all, what poverty level are we talking about? It is about providing two square meals a day, a roof over the head, schools for children and primary heath care, so that people living below the poverty line can move upwards. If a government cannot provide such moderate facilities, there is something wrong with the its intention or capabilities.

Nirupam Haldar Kolkata

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