‘Will eradicate poverty’: Rahul Gandhi’s Rs 72,000/yr plan for 5 crore families

With just weeks to go for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress President Rahul Gandhi announced a key highlight of his poll manifesto. Declaring his intention to 'eradicate poverty' in India, Gandhi promised Rs 72,000 per annum to 5 crore poor families if his party comes to power. Gandhi said that the Congress had consulted eminent economists to work out a fiscally prudent scheme. The promise is being seen as Congress' response to the NDA government's decision to provide Rs 6,000 per year as income support to poor farmers.