India needs basic income scheme to make lockdown work, says Thomas Piketty

The French economist said that India has the potential to become the global democratic leader of the 21st century if it manages to address the issue of inequality

India needs to come out with a basic income scheme to make the lockdown work, French economist Thomas Piketty said on Tuesday. He also said that India has the potential to become the global democratic leader of the 21st century if it manages to address the issue of inequality.

The government has imposed lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of coronavirus and since then extended the restrictions twice.

I think the government would be well advised to introduce a basic income scheme, and more generally to develop a safety net in India. I do not see how a