THE UPA government has resurrected the ‘Garibi hatao’ slogan that helped Indira Gandhi sweep the 1971 general elections with a two-thirds majority . On Thursday, the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the restructuring of the 20-point programme (TPP) — initiated by Indira Gandhi in 1975 — to make it relevant to the 21st century “with particular reference to economic reforms, liberalisation and globalisation of the Indian economy”. While doing so, it replaced ‘Garibi unmoolan’ (poverty alleviation) — as the first point of the revised TPP had initially read — with ‘Garibi hatao’ (eradicate poverty) for its political and historical value, not to mention the directness of the message.
Information and Broadcasting Minister P.R. Dasmunsi said the ‘Garibi hatao’ call would reflect the content and objective of the government’s antipoverty programmes better.
The changes in the TPP will come into force from April next year, almost coinciding with the election campaigns in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.
Dasmunsi said the repackaged 20-point programme would make a difference. The new TPP is a mix of social-sector schemes and initiatives whose implementation will be closely monitored to ensure that the benefits reach the targeted sections.
On Thursday, the cabinet approved the restructuring of the 20point programme (TPP) initiated by Indira in 1975 to eradicate poverty. The TPP was revised in 1982 and 1986 Dasmunsi says the Garibi hatao call will reflect the content and objective of anti-poverty programmes better TPP 2006 includes food security; education and health for all; women, child and youth welfare