Congress considers Rahul's 'Minimum Income' promise a game changer

Raipur: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday announced in Chhattisgarh that his party would ensure 'minimum income guarantee' to the poor and also promised a national farm loan waiver policy if Congress takes up the throne in 2019.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders described the idea of minimum income guarantee a game changer. Chidambaram called Rahul’s announcement historic which will make an evolutionary change in the lives of the poor.

Rahul Gandhi made the remarks at the 'Kisaan Abhaar Sammelan' held here to express gratitude to Chhattisgarh's people, particularly farmers, for voting the party to power in the state after a huge gap of 15 years.

“Nobody will remain hungry and nobody will remain poor”, he said. "We will do this in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and all other states as well. For the first time, Congress is going to implement this historic decision. All you have to do is to give us an opportunity”, he added.

Congress has decided to provide minimum income to the poor in all the states. The poor will get a minimum income directly into their bank account. This scheme will be first of its kind in the world as no other country has introduced such a scheme so far. We cannot build a new India while millions of our brothers & sisters suffer the scourge of poverty. If voted to power, Congress will ensure that people get the right to equality" ” Raga was quoted saying.

Rahul may not have revealed the finer details of his promise of providing minimum income guarantee to poor, but as per sources, the manifesto would bring “40 per cent” of the population under the minimum income guarantee scheme. This will include “small farmers”.

“The principle of Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been discussed extensively in the last two years. The time has come to adapt the principle to our situation and our needs and implement the same for the poor. We will explain our plan in the Congress manifesto. 140 million people were lifted out of poverty between 2004 and 2014. Now we should make a determined effort to wipe out poverty in India,” he said.

Gandhi said the Congress had promised in its election manifesto to waive off farm loans within 10 days after coming to power but waived off farm loans just a day after its government took over in Chhattisgarh.

The Congress president alleged that the Modi government made desperate attempts to dilute the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and later tried to push ill-intended amendments after coming to power in 2014. He also said that there was no deficit of funds to waive off loans, but BJP had other priorities and it did't pay heed to farm distress.