Governments exist to provide basic needs to their citizens.
The Constitution of India makes a mention of the duty of the State to ensure that men and women are provided with means of livelihood, that the level of nutrition and the standard of living are raised and public health improved. The Right to Basic Needs, as envisaged in the United Nation's Guidelines, differ from the concept of Basic Needs outlined by the Consumers International in its eight Consumer Rights. There is a need to redefine 'Basic Needs' in the U.N. Guidelines in keeping with the economic goals of the Third World countries, particularly India, where the major thrust of all development activities is, at least theoretically, aimed at providing food, basic health facilities, primary education, clean drinking water, sanitation and housing to its poor. In India, estimates of poverty keep changing with each political party that comes to power. In the beginning of 1996, we were told that during 1993-94 the incidence of poverty in India was 16 to 19 per cent of the population.