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Economic reforms not just for the rich: PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday sought to dispel 'misconceptions' that economic reforms were only for the rich saying that the government wanted to give a greater thrust to self-employment among the poor.

"There is a misconception that economic reforms are only for the big people, the rich. This is not right. We want to include the poor too. They should also get their share," Vajpayee said addressing a gathering of rickshaw pullers, hawkers and vendors led by former Delhi chief minister and MP Sahib Singh Verma.

The Prime Minister also expressed the desire for gradually reducing the number of government employees, but said the problem was where will those who lose their jobs go.

Vajpayee expressed concern over exploitation of the rickshaw pullers and vendors and said that the government will not tolerate any law coming in the way of alleviating poverty.

"We will change it. Laws should be such that they help the poor," he said, adding that he had already written to the Lt. Governor of Delhi in this regard and the latter had promised that necessary steps were being taken.

The government proposes to implement a plan for the uplift of the urban poor at the earliest, Vajpayee said seeking the help of the Delhi government in this regard.

He said that this plan had no political motives and was purely for the development of the downtrodden in urban areas.

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