A panel headed by former PMEAC Chairman C Rangarajan has dismissed the Tendulkar Committee report on approximating poverty and said that the number of poor in India was much higher in 2011-2012 at 29.5 percent of the population, which means that three out of 10 persons are facing poverty.
According to the report submitted by Rangarajan to Planning Minister Rao Inderjit Singh earlier, persons spending below Rs 47 a day in cities would be considered poor, much above the Rs 33-per day mark suggested by the Suresh Tendulkar Committee. As per the Rangarajan panel approximates, poverty stood at 38.2 percent in 2009-10 and slided to 29.5 percent in 2011-12. This is at discrepancy with the Tendulkar methodology under which poverty was approximated at 29.8 percent in 2009-10 and declined to 21.9 percent in 2011-12.
The Planning Commission's approximates based on Tendulkar Committee had drawn flak in September 2011, when in an affidavit to the Supreme Court it was mentioned that households with per capita consumption of beyond than Rs 33 in urban areas and Rs 27 in rural areas would not be treated as poor. The Rangarajan Committee was established during last year to review the Tendulkar Committee methodology for approximating poverty and clear the doubtfulness over the number of poor in the country.
In accordance with Rangarajan panel approximates, a person spending less than Rs. 1,407 a month (Rs 47/ day) would be considered poor in cities, as against the Tendulkar Committee's suggestion of Rs 1,000 a month (Rs 33/ day). In villages, those spending less than Rs 972 a month (Rs 32/ day) would be considered poor. This is much higher than Rs 816 a month (Rs 27/ day) recommended by Tendulkar Committee. In absolute terms, the number of poor in India stood at 36.3 crore in 2011-12, down from down from 45.4 crore in 2009-10, as per the Rangarajan panel.
Tendulkar Committee, nevertheless, had suggested that the number of poor was 35.4 crore in 2009-10 and 26.9 crore in 2011-12. - PTI
Poverty is certainly a big burden in India and it need to get resolved gradually for running a healthier and smoother society.
Image Courtesy: Arjun Vijesh
(AW:SB)
