Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey decided to observe a five-day fast from 22 October 2011 and observe a black Diwali in protest against the Planning Commission’s definition of poverty and setting a BPL benchmark of Rs 32 per person expenditure per day in urban areas and Rs 26 per person in rural areas. Pandey is to observe the fast at his ashram in Lalpur village of Hardoi district.
Pandey decided to demand universalisation of the public distribution system (PDS), withdrawal of the cash transfer scheme as a substitute for PDS, Rs 250 as minimum wages under NREGS with scope for upgradation with price rise and with every hike in salaries of government employees.
Pandey’s NGO Asha Pariwar mentioned that demand that BPL lists to be decided by Gram Sabhas and Ward Sabhas, and common school system concept be included in the Right to Education Act would also be placed.
It alleged that the government had not been able to check farmer suicides, hunger deaths and malnourishment of children. Also, the economic policy of the government is benefiting the well-off sections of society at the cost of the poor.
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