'Garibi Hatao': Strategy Options M L Dantwala KNOWLEDGE of the dismal performance of practically all 'special' employment and income augmenting schemes for the weaker sections of the rural population is fairly common, Even so, Nilakan- tha Rath deserves our compliments for meticulously assembling the more recent evidence and forcefully highlighting the infirmities of these programmes [Rath. 1985]. Personally for me the exercise is particularly gratifying as, on several occasions, I have voiced concern about the manner in which these programmes are formulated and implemented.