Judged by past experiences, the targets set in the sixth plan for poverty reduction and consumption redistribution are quite ambitious and unlikely to be realised. The author questions the planners seriousness and charges that their plans and projections are based on unwarrented but convenient...

Policy emphasis in Indian economic development planning has always been on 'economic growth with income redistribution'. Such a strategy seeks to exploit the potential of development programmes for poverty reduction and welfare gains by reducing the costs due to inequality in income...