Is Minimum Income Plan Cong’s Poll Masterstroke? Twitter Weighs In

There were many questions on its feasibility.

Rahul Gandhi on Monday 25 March promised to roll out a Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme if the Congress comes to power in the Centre. The scheme is envisaged to ensure that India’s 20 percent poorest families make at least Rs 6,000 every month. “5 Crore of the poorest families in India, will receive Rs. 72,000 Per Year#NyayForIndia is our dream & our pledge,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

Today is a historic day..

It is on this day that the Congress party launched its final assault on poverty.

5 Crore of the poorest families in India, will receive Rs. 72,000 Per Year#NyayForIndia is our dream & our pledge.

The time for change has come.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 25, 2019

‘Good Beginning’

With hashtags MinimumIncomeGuarantee and NyayForIndia, Rahul Gandhi’s announcement became the topic of discussion on Twitter. There were questions on its feasibility and logic. But many were happy that there is a conversation around basic income.

Not sure how @RahulGandhi will manage 3-3.5 Lakh crore rupees every year for #MinimumIncomeGuarantee. But agree that the basic minimum income needs to go up drastically. Currently, its Rs 2,500 per month. Its a joke

— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) March 25, 2019

Like the Congress party or not, the #MinimumIncomeGuarantee proposal brings the discussion back to issues that matter. When was the last time there was a sustained public debate on social sector allocations, poverty line, measurement, state capacity, administrative data, etc?

— Suvojit (@suvojitc) March 25, 2019

Minimum Income Guarantee Explained

One Twitter user put out a thread attempting to explain the scheme. According to him, a family earning less than 12K a month will given the required amount to reach 12K.

#NyayForIndia thread :

The scheme (NYAY) emphasizes that the minimum income of a 'Family' should be 12K/PM

Therefore a family earning less than 12K/PM will be given the required amount to reach 12K/PM.

However, 72K/PA is the maximum limit.

1/3

— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) March 25, 2019

Not Feasible?

Some said the scheme doesn’t fit in the budget and will result in inflation.

#MinimumIncomeGuarantee proposed by congress Promises to give ₹ 72000/year to 5 crore families in india. This will require spending of ~ ₹3,60,000 Crore.

The amount is nearly 17% of the overall Indian budget for 2017-18.

RaGa's economics is outstanding. 👏

— Liberal Nut🇮🇳🇮🇱 (@theliberalnut) March 25, 2019

Middle and lower middle class please prepare your self for higher income tax n higher inflation #MinimumIncomeGuarantee

— Chowkidar sonu raj gupta (@sonurajgupta) March 25, 2019

‘Bhakts Trying To Create Doubts’

Others said believing in Minimum Income Guarantee is much better than believing in the Rs 15 lakh Narendra Modi promised. There were doubts when Manmohan Singh announced MNREGA too, they said.

Rip Irony.
Those sanghis who never raised any doubt when @narendramodi promised 15 lakh per person in 2014,are asking where ll @RahulGandhi get the adequate funds to give #MinimumIncomeGuarantee of Rs 72000 to 5 crore poor families every year.#NyayForIndia #RahulForBehtarBharat

— Yash Desai (@yashdes57571557) March 25, 2019

The #MinimumIncomeGuarantee scheme announced by @RahulGandhi ji is a game changer. It will help uplift people out of poverty. For those asking about source of money, why wasn’t this question asked to BJP when they waived off 2.5 Lakh Crore loan of its industrialist friends. https://t.co/0tR0Uv3Ss5

— #ChowkidarChorHai (@hamdan_7_7_7) March 25, 2019

Illiterate Sanghis had raised doubts even when Dr Manmohan Singh had promised MNREGA.

These bhakts are again trying to spell doubts over #MinimumIncomeGuarantee or #Nyay.
Fact is that @RahulGandhi delivered #MNREGA & he ll deliver #NyayForIndia as well.
Its just a matter of time

— 𝑽𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒚 𝑲𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒓 𝑫𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒂 (@VinayDokania) March 25, 2019

Good Strategy

Many Twitter users said this is a masterstroke by the Congress. It is the ‘Brahmastra of this polls,’ they said.

If @INCIndia does this, it would be a clean sweep. With #NYAY they have taken the wind out of the sails of their opponents. Master Stroke.#NyayForIndia #NFU2Fauj

— Surinder Mahandwan (@SurinMahan) March 25, 2019

NYAY

- 72,000/year as income directly to bank accounts of the poor

- 5 crore families will get the money

- 25 crore people will benefit#MinimumIncomeGuarantee is the Brahmastra of Congress in these polls.

Congressis, ensure info about this scheme reaches every poor person. pic.twitter.com/PnqY9o4PJI

— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 25, 2019