The 20-Point Programme announced by the late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi as "an agenda for national action to promote social justice and economic growth", succee ded in lifting more than 14 percent of country's population above the poverty line in just three years, a remarkable achievement indeed! The Programme remained the main plank of Mrs. Gandhi's policies till the end. The new government led by Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has reiterated its faith in its efficacy and is further strengthening it to continue its offensive against poverty.
Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi recently reaffirmed his government's faith in the tenets of the Programme saying, "our anti-poverty programmes constitute the core of the 20-point programme. These will be expanded and restructured to give maximum assistance to families below the poverty line. We have gathered valuable experience in implementing these programmes. We must use this experience to improve them. We must involve the people in implementing these programmes. New life has to be brea thed into decentralised institutions."
Inspite of its social and economic signi ficance, the Programme unfortunately has not so far attracted sufficient analytical attention. Barring a few exceptions, the study of the 20 points has been largely confined to arm-chair discussion on it, generally along individual's own political predilections.
"War On Poverty" is an effort in the direction of gaining an insight into Mrs. Indira Gandhi's strategy of poverty eradica tion as also into its well-meant ethic that has impelled the new government to stand by it to bring about a better life for the teeming poor of the country.