> Opinion of the majority is not the right one always.

> There is not a single govt. scheme which has been efficient to achieve its objective

> I will not because I'm not just motivated by better food but many other things

> I was talking about society in general.Blacks are physically strong but you need motivation to work. Many African countries have better HDI index and natural resources but poorer than us. What does it say?

Many people in European countries and also the US feel that the unemployment dole or its equivalent given to people, particularly youngsters, have made them lazy and unwilling to work. They just fitter away the money in drinks, for example. In India, the 2-3 rupee rice/wheat schemes have had almost the same effect. Even in times of crisis the poor are unwilling to work because they can have their food at much cheaper rates than their cost of production. Small farms are making farming economically unviable. A farmer who is reluctant to farm for economic reasons also does not have the freedom to sell his farm (he has to sell only to a farmer, who also may be unwilling to buy) and do something else for a living. Also, the food diversity is lost because of the rice/wheat schemes. Villagers are not producing other foodgrains which they traditionally did. The nutrition levels are also becoming poorer even though the calorie requirement  may have been fulfilled. Fertilizer subsidy has played havoc with soil nutrient levels. Water tables have sunk low. We need innovative solutions. Not "throw money at the problem" solutions like FSB.

Originally posted by neelendra Perhaps in our urge to prosper and grow we forget that a large cross section of society struggle to make a living. Where rice and salt is a feast for guests and the 500 bucks a month suffices for a family of 4-5-6… Where even a NREGA at 20% efficiency has made a difference to hundreds of families that I have met in the most backward tribal regions of our country. Look I don’t want to turn this debate into a socialist v/s capitalist schpiel but balance a NREGA and FSB (in whichever manner it is passed) with the many Power projects, Dams, Ports, Airports, SEZ’s and other infrastructural developments in the country whose benefits don’t reach a majority of the populace... and you’ll realize whose side the govt (even an ineffective one as this) is on. And while nothing is fool proof or corruption free social experiments will have to be conducted to correct the anamoly of an eyesore Antilla with a 50 sq feet hutment that coexist in the commercial capital of the country.

Exactly my thoughts , if so much can be done for corporate and middle class , there is no need to get angry when poor are helped.

I have worked in rural areas and seen the good effect of NREGA & KCC , i have also seen how 70-80 yr old people will walk 10-15 km just to get rs 300 pension/month (another so called freebie) per month and survive on that.

The flyovers , airports , gdp , sensex , it parks , sezs etc don't matter to them ,for them its a fight for survival


When poor are helped we start talking about how it will kill capitalism & populist measures but not a word is uttered when sez are made , corporate debts are written off/restructured ,tax cut on corporate/middle class is welcomed.

Such a hue cry made when petrol/lpg prices are increased.Just because poor don't have a voice or they don't make money for media/newspaper doesn't mean we leave them to die

Anyways if we can't do anything for poor at least we should not become a cry baby & cry foul when govt is trying to help them

I don't think anybody will disagree that we can't have a society where every individual doesn't get at least two meals a day. The worry is more about how to fund it and if we can afford to fund it? Also the leakages in the system like the erstwhile PDS system will be a big issue to manage.