NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today cautioned that poor cannot wait for long and they need to get succour “here and now”, in remarks that come against the backdrop of demonetisation which, he said, may lead to temporary slowdown of economy.
In a New Year video address to Governors and Lt Governors, he noted that the recent package announced by the Prime Minister will provide some relief.
“Demonetization, while immobilizing black money and fighting corruption, may lead to temporary slowdown of the economy. We all will have to be extra careful to alleviate the suffering of the poor which might become unavoidable for the expected progress in the long term,” Mukherjee said.
He said while he appreciates the thrust on transition from entitlement approach to an entrepreneurial one for poverty alleviation, he was “not too sure that the poor can wait that long.”
“They (poor) need to get succor here and now, so that they can also participate actively in the national march towards a future devoid of hunger, unemployment and exploitation. The recent package announced by the Prime Minister will provide some relief,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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