New Delhi: The UPA government might be drawing mixed reactions regarding its flagship programmes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREG) and Bharat Nirman, but the schemes have definitely grabbed the attention of neighbouring Pakistan that has forced its Planning Commission deputy chairman Salman Faruqui and his team to come calling on India.
The visitors from Pakistan on Tuesday showed special interest to learn more about the nuance of NREG and components of Bharat Nirman like rural roads, drinking water, sanitation and rural electrification.
During their meeting with their Indian counterparts headed by Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Pak side expressed their desire to know-how India has managed to carry on with its social welfare schemes and focus on infrastructure development in the face of rising inflation and soaring oil prices. The Indian side made presentations on many of the key sectors including infrastructure, agriculture and NREG to give an overview to the Pak team who has invited Gajendra Haldea, Advisor to Ahluwalia to Pakistan so that they are able to replicate the Indian model in the infrastructure sector, particularly roads and power.
Giving some cues for tackling the problem of rising oil prices and soaring inflation, Pakistan told Indian planners that it was proposing to introduce Benazir Card to provide direct subsidy to poor and owners of two-wheelers and small cars.
“What we are trying to do is to introduce what we call Benazir card, which will give Rs 1,000 per month to every poor and disadvantaged households Faruqui said after the meeting.
Under the proposed scheme, owners of two-wheelers and small cars (up to 800 cc) would be provided limited quantity of fuel at subsidised rates, while the others will be required to shell out market rate. The Benazir card is expected to provide direct subsidy to five to seven million poor people and cover about 20% of Pakistan’s population. At the moment, Faruqui said, “We are heavily subsiding the oil sector and as a result of it non-poor are also getting benefit. I find similar situation exists in India as well.”
The scheme is being formulated in a manner that “The poor are targeted and given subsidy, while the household which can afford should pay the current oil prices,” he said, adding that both the countries are facing several problems but rising oil and food prices are the most pressing ones.
Replying questions on the issue of Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline Faruqui expressed the confidence that India would join the agreement.
“From all the indications that we have, India will be joining with us. This pipeline is good for both India and Pakistan and for the energy crisis all over the world,” he said.
