Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday announced a monthly income guarantee scheme assuring Rs. 72,000 a year for 20 per cent of India’s poorest people.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Rahul said the money will directly transferred to bank accounts and this scheme would benefit 25 crore people.
“5 crore families, that is, approximately 25 crore people will benefit from Minimum Income Guarantee scheme,” Rahul said.
“Scheme will be implemented in phases. The fiscal repercussions have been analysed. If PM Narendra Modi can give Rs 3,50,000Cr to India’s richest, then we do the same for India’s poorest families. This is about justice for the poor,” said Congress President.
Rahul said, “14 crore people were lifted out of poverty under MNREGA scheme. This scheme will lift 25 crore people out of poverty.”
“The basic income line we will consider is Rs 12,000, which means we will chip in the rest to raise the monthly income if it is lower than Rs 12,000 until people reach the basic income of Rs 12,000,” Rahul said.
“If a family makes Rs 6,000 a month, we will top up another Rs 6,000,” Rahul added.
Rahul also described this move as historical as no one has done it before.
