Anti-poverty programmes have a long history

If one thought that the anti-poverty programmes are a modern-day phenomenon, he/she could be committing a mistake. Such programme are centuries old.

The concern for the poor and the debate on the role of the state and the design of safety net programmes have a long history, according to K Subbarao, World Bank consultant and former professor of economics at the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi.

Delivering the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) fourth silver jubilee lecture here on Wednesday, Subbarao said that the anti-poverty programmes could be dated back to 12th century China ruled by Emperor Kublai Khan.

Deeply concerned with the poverty and destitution of China's peasants, Kublai Khan considered conservation of rain water as the best anti-poverty programme and ordered peasants to dig huge tanks by the side of the mountain ranges to harness rainwater.

Similarly, during the 16th and 17th centuries, poor laws of England were enacted when the state took over the functions previously held by the Church and made voluntary efforts to develop a system of public relief for the ultra poor.

Under the poor laws, public works were introduced whereby poor people were given subsistence allowance in return for manual work, "hard and nasty work", the economist said.

Ironically, despite having a long history, the anti-poverty programmes could not overcome some of their shortcomings. Subbarao cited that a recent research had pointed out three major shortcomings in the design and actual implementation of safety net programmes across the developing world. The foremost among them was that several programmes failed to reach the poorest of the poor.

Nevertheless, he said, "We have now a rich array of experience from across the developing and developed world to avoid errors in choice, design and implementation of safety net programmes."

One of the participants in the programme, who heard the lecture in rapt attention, felt that India could perhaps be one of the pioneers in the world in ushering in anti-poverty programmes given the numerous irrigation tanks built by its erstwhile rulers.

Even the building of the world famous Taj Mahal and various forts and palaces across the country could be considered as anti-poverty measures as their construction involved provision of employment to thousands of poor labourers, he told Business Standard.