The President of the Congress party Rahul Gandhi today announced what he called a “HISTORIC” minimum income scheme to 20 percent of India’s poorest people.
The scheme will guarantee INR₹ 72, 000 annually (approx. US$ 1045) to 20 percent of the poorest people in the nation. The announcement comes just a few days before polling starts next month.
Rahul Gandhi said, “It is not acceptable to the Congress that there is poverty in India in the 21st century. The final assault on poverty has begun.”
Under the scheme “Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY)”, the money would be directly transferred to bank accounts. The scheme if implemented would lift five crore families or 25 crore people out of poverty.
“It is fiscally possible. We have been studying the scheme for four-five months. We committed to the MGNREGA, we delivered MGNREGA … now we will ensure justice for the poor,” Mr. Gandhi added.
Minutes before the press meet, Rahul Gandhi chaired the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet, they met to finalise the party’s manifesto.