Effect direct cash transfers to poor: Experts

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Distressed at the growing vulgar disparities and the abysmal condition of the poor, leading lights of the country, including Finance Minister P Chidambaram, are unanimous that the the one big short term solution to the problem is direct cash transfers to the absolute poor.

A consensus in this regard emerged at a panel discussion here last night among experts, organised on the occassion of the release of the book by Mr N K Singh, a former civil servant and now a well-known political commentator.

Those who participated in the discussion included the Finance Minister, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO K V Kamath, former Disinvestment Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Arun Shourie, Head of NDTV Prannoy Roy, and Indian Express Editor Shekhar Gupta. The discussion was moderated by Vikram Chandra, an anchor with NDTV.

The book, entitled ''The Politics of Change; A Ringsde View,'' has been brought out by The Express Group and Penguin Books.

The idea was mooted by Mr Chidambaram and generally found wide acceptance among the penalists and the large audience.

Direct cash transfers could also hold the key to growth. The one big problem affecting the nation was the poor quality of governance, which needed improvement at the Centre, but left much to be desired at the level of states, districts and even panchayats.

Lord Meghnand Desai, Professor Emeritus at the London School of Economics, suggested that a dollar a day (internationally accepted definition of poverty) could be transferred to the poor.

Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said the transfer should best be routed through the Panchayats. Besides, there was a need to ensure that not just lip service is paid to the Panchayati Raj institutions, but that they are genuinely empowered and made effective instruments of delivery.

Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, said the concept was laudable, but the probem with India was not dearth of ideas, but the poor quality of their execution.

Mr Chidambaram said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme could be an instrument of transfer of such money, provided of course the programme was implemented effectively.

The Finance Minister was of the view that direct transfers could continue until jobs are provided to the poor. This may also entail doing away with the existing poverty alleviation programmes.

Mr Kamath said technology was available for such transfers and isssuing of a smart card would be helful in such transfers, as the beneficiary would know how much of the money was left in his balance.

Mr Singh had earlier presented the book to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The glittering event at the Oberoi Hotel on the release of the book saw an impressive turn out of economists, bureaucrats, diplomats and political personalities.

Mr Gupta remarked that he had never seen a more impressive book release function than the present event.

The book makes a case for a meaningful look at India's internal dynamics and the way world views it. It is a compilation of articles written by Mr Singh for the Indian Express and Financial Express between January 2004 and June 2006.

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