Garibi Hatao Elements of a Strategy

'Garibi Hatao': Elements of a Strategy S Sarath NILAKANTHA RATH (EPW, February 9) has made an interesting analysis of the 'garibi' issue and/the relevance of IRDP to the 'solution' of the problem of poverty in rural areas. M L Dantwala (EPW, March 16) has made a set of central comments whereas Indira Hirway's comments (EPW, March 30) underscore the importance of total planning and a central agency for implementing the plan. This note seeks to provide cross- lighting of the basic issue from another standpoint. Fart I of the note is on general concepts, Part II on an algebraic analysis which is intentionally simplistic and Part III on a numerical quantification of the algebra using either data presented by Rath and Hirway or information commonly available.