In a recent exclusive interview, Prime Minister Modi was questioned about the initiative to lift 25 crore people out of poverty and the provision of ration to 80 crore impoverished individuals, emphasizing its current and future necessity.
PM Modi responded by recounting past challenges, citing instances where food grains went to waste during previous administrations. He highlighted his administration’s proactive approach, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on ensuring basic necessities for every poor household.
PM Modi said, “When Manmohan Singh ji was the Prime Minister, news was rife with reports of food grains getting spoilt. So, the Supreme Court asked the government as to why the grains were not being distributed among the poor. Manmohan Singh ji, who was the Prime Minister then, stated on record that they could not distribute the grains and that it was impossible to do it. That is the consequence of his thinking. I faced the same issue, especially during COVID-19. My first goal was to ensure that a stove should be lit in every poor household. So, I started working on it.”
He further said, “I have stated this for the next five years as well because in the lives of those who come out of poverty… For example, one returns home from the hospital. The treatment has been done but precaution is necessary. A doctor advises you to take rest for a particular duration after returning home, tells you what to eat and what to refrain from consuming, and what to take care of. Why? The illness has already been addressed, but if anything is endangered then the condition of the person would return to what it was. That is why poor people who escape poverty need handholding. They should not return to that state in any condition.”
PM Modi outlined a vision for the next five years, aiming to empower individuals to stand independently after escaping poverty, ensuring they do not slip back into deprivation even in times of adversity.
He continued to say, “Once they escape poverty, they should be empowered to stand strong. In my understanding, in the next five years, those who have escaped poverty should be able to firmly stand on their feet. Any unfortunate incident in their family, should not push them to poverty again. And only then will the country eradicate poverty.”
PM Modi emphasized that sustainable poverty eradication requires not just lifting people out of poverty but also enabling them to remain resilient and self-reliant, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall poverty reduction efforts.