NOBEL LAUREATES ON INDIAN CHALLENGES
Focus :
- Nobel laureates, founders of J-PAL, discuss key policy challenges in India, focusing on education and employment.
- Debate on extreme poverty exists due to lack of official data since 2011, impacting policy responses.
Key Highlights :
- National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Public Distribution System (PDS) have proven effective in poverty reduction.
- Challenges assessing impact of schemes like PM Awas Yojana.
- Slow progress in primary education improvement.
- Neglected focus on secondary education and employability.
- Lack of clear solutions for child stunting and wasting.
- Protein deficiency highlighted, emphasizing awareness.
- Acknowledgment of political challenges in dietary changes.
- India’s globally low health budget allocation.
- Allocation disparities between elite institutions and government schools.
Key Terms
NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act): A social security measure, NREGA ensures the right to employment by providing at least 100 days of wage employment to rural households. PDS (Public Distribution System): PDS is a government initiative distributing subsidized food and non-food items to India’s economically vulnerable population. PM Awas Yojana (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana): Launched to provide affordable housing for all by 2022, PM Awas Yojana aims to address housing needs, particularly for the economically weaker sections and low-income groups. |