The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Panchayat raj has helped the poor'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Panchayat raj has helped the poor'

By Our Staff Reporter

B.K. Chandrashekar (left), former Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, releasing India Untouched: The Forgotten Face of Rural Poverty, authored by Abraham M. George (right), Dean of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media , in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE, JULY 22. B.K. Chandrashekar, former Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, today released India Untouched: The Forgotten Face of Rural Poverty, authored by Abraham M. George, Dean of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore.

Prof. Chandrasekhar said that poverty and oppression were inherent in society. With the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, which enabled the setting up of the panchayat raj system, the deprived sections of society became somewhat empowered, he observed. The rural people were becoming more aware of issues and the results of the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections was proof of this, he added.

Prof. Chandrashekar said that the central principle of all social change was that of equity. "The plight of the rural poor, who comprise more than half of India's population, is the most pressing issue. Dr. George's experience and recommendations in the book need to be considered," he added.

Dr. George is the founder of The George Foundation and chairman of a medical diagnostic software company in New Jersey. Dr. George said the widening gap between the haves and have-nots was fuelling frustration and resentment. New solutions needed to be found to remove poverty, he added.

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