Apropos The Rs 28 Diet Plan (Apr 2), juxtapose the “Statement of Revenue Foregone” with “scarce resources” for a universal pds and rural employment to get an idea of where the government’s sympathies lie.

G. David Milton, Maruthancode

Bringing the poverty line below the people is cheaper than lifting millions above it. And Montek can do the former from his A-C office.

K. Suresh, Bangalore

The Rs 28 poverty line is the equivalent of Marie Antoinette’s ‘let them have cake’.

Tejinder Brar, St Louis, US

It’d be interesting to see how burly Montek Singh Ahluwalia would fare on this diet plan.

Ramana, Hyderabad

Montek's Formula : Bringing poverty line below the people is cheaper than lifting millions above poverty line. The former can be done sitting in an A/C office in Delhi.

Good one. We should find out how the burly Montek Singh Ahluwalia would survive on this diet plan. Being an educated man of so much experience at the highest levels, he should have had some sense to arrive at such figures.

 As the French revolution was defined by 'Let them eat cake', the Indian one will be defined by the 'poverty level of Rs 28'

this is MMS Govt's plan to reduce expenditure for obesity. If you consume 677cal/ day you will have an anoerexic figure and you can then beome a professional model. That will make you earn money which will alow you to buy a healthy meal!

This is plain and simple economics of stalwarts like Dr MMS, PC, Montek S A, Pranab da and similar wizards.

 Why is the author so upset that poverty levels have come down?

Sort of like the work "A Black Like Me". Could it prick us as to really how inhuman and dehumanizing our poverty is - and look for a solution beyond charity? Honestly, the number should become the focal point - the number simply symbolises how terrible the situation really is and how urgent the need for action beyond charity.

I share many experiences of the author of this article. Apparently, our politicians are more interested in knowing a ‘correct’ definition of poverty rather than implementing economic programmes which would improve the economic status conditions of the poor. It is a bitter fact is that poverty breeds crime, corruption and more poverty. In such a situation implementing programmes which provide (1) a minimum income to BPL families, (2) provide health care at an affordable cost and (3) ensure that every child goes to school are the main challenges before our planners. But unfortunately our politicians do not wish to face these challenges head on, and instead, they are content with having a ‘healthy’ debate on ‘poverty definitions’. It is indeed a very sad scenario.
Solution lies in corruption-free implementation of rural employment generation programmes, revamping our public distribution system, better utilization of the existing strength of trained teachers and health care staff employed in the government run hospitals and the ‘Primary Health Centres, considerably improving public transport facilities and so on. Public private partnership has also been often been advocated in many economic programmes, which we need to try. Citizens must unite to demand implementation of all these measures to save our society from futile debates.

 A powerful article! It is a shame that ever after all our so called  "development" for 60 years (I am not maoist but simply don't buy our corrupt government's claims anymore) we are talking about issues like hunger, calories and nutrition!!! Why can't the government simply legislate a new "right to food" law for 100% of Indian population and distribute essentials via nation wide public-distribution systems(may be run on a private/public partnership model)? Ofcourse this will not happen since there will be no scope for corruption- I am sure 20 years later we will still be talking about poverty and nutrition. 

 A powerful article! It is a shame that ever after all our so called  "development" for 60 years (I am not maoist but simply don't buy our corrupt government's claims anymore) we are talking about issues like hunger, calories and nutrition!!! Why can't the government simply legislate a new "right to food" law for 100% of Indian population and distribute essentials via nation wide public-distribution systems(may be run on a private/public partnership model)? Ofcourse this will not happen since there will be no scope for corruption- I am sure 20 years later we will still be talking about poverty and nutrition. 

I share many experiences of the author of this article. Apparently, our politicians are more interested in knowing a ‘correct’ definition of poverty rather than implementing economic programmes which would improve the economic status conditions of the poor. It is a bitter fact is that poverty breeds crime, corruption and more poverty. In such a situation implementing programmes which provide (1) a minimum income to BPL families, (2) provide health care at an affordable cost and (3) ensure that every child goes to school are the main challenges before our planners. But unfortunately our politicians do not wish to face these challenges head on, and instead, they are content with having a ‘healthy’ debate on ‘poverty definitions’. It is indeed a very sad scenario.
Solution lies in corruption-free implementation of rural employment generation programmes, revamping our public distribution system, better utilization of the existing strength of trained teachers and health care staff employed in the government run hospitals and the ‘Primary Health Centres, considerably improving public transport facilities and so on. Public private partnership has also been often been advocated in many economic programmes, which we need to try. Citizens must unite to demand implementation of all these measures to save our society from futile debates.

Sort of like the work "A Black Like Me". Could it prick us as to really how inhuman and dehumanizing our poverty is - and look for a solution beyond charity? Honestly, the number should become the focal point - the number simply symbolises how terrible the situation really is and how urgent the need for action beyond charity.

 Why is the author so upset that poverty levels have come down?

this is MMS Govt's plan to reduce expenditure for obesity. If you consume 677cal/ day you will have an anoerexic figure and you can then beome a professional model. That will make you earn money which will alow you to buy a healthy meal!

This is plain and simple economics of stalwarts like Dr MMS, PC, Montek S A, Pranab da and similar wizards.

 As the French revolution was defined by 'Let them eat cake', the Indian one will be defined by the 'poverty level of Rs 28'

Good one. We should find out how the burly Montek Singh Ahluwalia would survive on this diet plan. Being an educated man of so much experience at the highest levels, he should have had some sense to arrive at such figures.

Montek's Formula : Bringing poverty line below the people is cheaper than lifting millions above poverty line. The former can be done sitting in an A/C office in Delhi.