Pandemic, Poverty and Freedom

The Indian Express     15th September 2020     Save    

Context: Indian freedom fighters did not take the fight against poverty and inequality as being separate from the struggle against British colonialism.

The idea of Freedom from Poverty/Economic Emancipation

  • It ensures freedom from exploitation, poverty and inequality
    • Both in terms of money metric and education, health, employment and nutrition. 
  • Linkage with political freedom: Dadabhai Naorojis estimates of poverty were closely linked to the idea of freedom from British rule and poverty. 
    • It was reflected in Antyodaya or later in the reports of the National Planning Committee of 1938.
  • Indian Constitution recognises the idea of economic emancipation as a precondition for a vibrant democracy.
    • Democracy is incomplete without equality of access to education, employment and health.
    • Indian Constitution through the Directive Principles of State Policy makes states responsible for ensuring economic equality.

Evolution of Poverty Reduction in India

  • Poverty became an issue of political mobilisation and a priority for economic policy-making in the 1960s.
    • For E.g. With the call of “Garibi Hatao” by Indira Gandhi.
    • The 1970s saw the initiation of poverty alleviation programmes of the Centre as well as in states.
  • Liberalisation paved the way for rights-based poverty alleviation: 
    • State-led dirigisme has given way to a more open and liberalised state with the dominance of the market. 
    • Shift to a rights-based Government initiative like NREGA, RTE, National Health Mission and expansion in food programmes
    • This has led to India surpassing the  “Hindu rate of growth” of 3-4% to an average of 7% per annum.

Challenges 

  • Report of consumption survey (2017-18) was leaked, but not released, showed a decline in consumption expenditure in rural areas while barely increasing in urban areas leading to a rise in poverty.
  • No official estimates of poverty and inequality after 2011-12
    • Post-1991 economic reforms growth has been accompanied by increasing inequality in assets and incomes.
  • Pandemic induced economic crisis and declining growth indicators (even bigger than it was during the 1990s and 2000s). 

Conclusion: Freedom from poverty is a prerequisite for actualising the democratic ideals/ principles of equality, liberty and fraternity.