Question : BELOW POVERTY LINE

(a) whether the union Government have constituted a panel of experts to study the latest estimates on poverty and to see the comparative figures of people living below poverty line;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the percentage of people living below poverty line has dipped in 1999- 2000 as compared to that of in 1993-94;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government are aware that Central assistance being provided to the people living below poverty line does not actually reach the beneficiaries; and

(f) if so, the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this direction?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DISINVESTMENT, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PLANNING, STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES (SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)

(a): No such panel has been set up so far.

(b): Question does not arise.

(c) & (d): The Planning Commission estimates poverty at national and state level from the large sample surveys on consumer expenditure conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) at an interval of approximately five years. The latest estimate of poverty is available for the year 1993-94, based on the large survey on consumer expenditure of NSS 50th Round (July, 1993 to June, 1994). According to this, 35.97% of the population lived below the poverty line in 1993- 94. The full data from next large survey on consumer expenditure conducted during the period July, 1999 to June, 2000 are under process.

(e) & (f): Mid-term Review of the 9th Plan has identified several factors because of which assistance meant for the poor often does not reach them. The Review has suggested changing the nature of schemes, convergence and better monitoring of schemes, besides suggesting improvement in fiscal sustainability and governance at the State level.