India’s extreme poverty level drops below 1%, says J. P. Nadda

PM Modi has ensured that no one goes to bed on an empty stomach even as the country faces pandemic like COVID-19 and other natural disasters, says the BJP chief

The level of extreme poverty in India has dropped below 1% while Indian economy is registering rapid growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Bharatiya Janata Party president J.P. Nadda on Wednesday.

The BJP president came to Odisha on a one-day visit. He visited Jaleshpata in Kandhamal district where Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was hacked to death by suspected left-wing extremists in 2008. His killing had led to one of Odisha’s worst incidents of communal violence in which Christians were at the receiving end. The BJP chief paid tribute to late Laxmanananda Saraswati. He addressed two public meetings at Tumudibandh in Kandhamal district and Banapur in Khordha district.

Stating that extreme poverty has fallen below 1%, Mr. Nadda said this was not the report of any Indian agency, but that of International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“This has happened because Prime Minister has given 5 kg of wheat, 5 kg of rice and 1 kg of dal to 80 crore population. Mr. Modi has ensured that no one in the country goes to bed on an empty stomach even as the country faces pandemic like COVID-19 and other natural disasters,” he said, adding that the Union Cabinet recently decided to extend the subsidised food scheme for people to 2023.

“The British had ruled India for 200 years. Now, the Indian economy has become the world’s fifth largest economy, overtaking United Kingdom,” said Mr. Nadda.

“India’s chemical industry is meeting demand of the world with 160% growth, the country’s ranking in mobile phone manufacturing has jumped to second place, automobile sector has taken us to fourth spot and Indian pharmaceutical sector is now supplying drugs to whole world,” said the BJP president.

“India had 3 crore people with bank accounts. But Jan-Dhan Yojana launched by Mr. Modi took the number of people with bank accounts to 46 crore. The scheme enabled people to avail benefit directly from government,” said Mr. Nadda.