As per report Congress National President Rahul Gandhi made a heavy promise to voters during a campaign stating that if the party is voted to power, then it will implement universal basic income for the poor. He explained "We cannot build a new India while millions of our brothers & sisters suffer the scourge of poverty. If voted to power in 2019, the Congress is committed to a Minimum Income Guarantee for every poor person, to help eradicate poverty & hunger where this is our vision & our promise".
Furthermore the Minimum Income Guarantee is a rip-off of the Universal Basic Income idea which is being considered globally as economies become unstable and people are going out of jobs, forced into abject poverty. Reportedly the idea first made its way into India through Economic Survey of India in 2016-17 which was considered for Economically Weaker Sections.
Moreover the Congress is considering Rs.6000-7000 per person per annum which could come up to 5% of India's GDP. Apparently the promise definitely seems like a bright idea, its implementation and the process to roll it out still needs debate and discussion and they also need to understand its long term benefits and whether it would really push the poor out of poverty, as intended.
