According to the Economic Survey, safety nets may be offered to those who either cannot participate in the growth process (such as for reasons of extreme deprivation or vulnerability combined with poverty) or face continuing exposure to risks uncertainties of economic forces.

The government, in particular, intends to extend what it calls an effective safety nets that ensure rural poor against the income fluctuations. Public works programme, for example, may be initiated for this section of people.

Stressing that human development remains at the core of the government planning and the ongoing economic reforms, the Survey points out that if the people are educated, skilled and healthy, they can contribute more to economic development.

Employment generation and anti-poverty programmes have, however,proliferated over the years. Multiplicity of such programmes have led to needless duplication, high overhead costs, confusion a field levels and insufficient benefits to the people. The government would like to unify these programmes.

That the successive governments have taken care of the social sector needs is reflected from the fact that the central expenditure on these sectors (education, health and family welfare, water supply, sanitation, housing, social welfare, nutrition, rural employment and minimum basic services) as a ratio to total expenditure increased from 7.7 per cent in 1990-91 to 10.5 per cent in 1997-98 (revised estimates) and further to 11.5 per cent in 1998-99 (budget estimates).

As a ratio to the GDP at current market prices, the Central government expenditure on social services increased from 1.4 per cent in 1990-91 to 1.7 per cent in 1998-99 (BE). The central outlay for welfare of the weaker sections increased by 91.4 per cent in 1998-99 (BE) over 1997-98 (RE), family welfare by36.1 per cent, health by 30.2 per cent and education by 26.7 per cent.

Housing would constitute a major area of government attention in view of serious shortage of dwelling units countrywide. While the central government would provide policy guidelines for housing programmes for various target groups undertaken by state governments, it would also implement central sector schemes for the urban poor. A new national housing and habitat policy 1998 has been formulated by the government The objective of the policy is to facilitate construction of 20 lakh dwelling units each year with emphasis on the poor. Out of 20 lakh houses, seven lakh houses would be constructed for the urban poor.

The Survey points out that the ordinance on repeal of ULCRA will go a long way in realising the ambitious housing plans of the government. ULCRA ordinance will be implemented in all union territories and the two states of Haryana and Punjab.