MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a) to (f): The Ministry of Rural Development provides financial and technical support
to the States/UTs for conducting the BPL Census to identify the families living Below the
Poverty Line in the rural areas who could be targeted under its programmes. The last BPL
Census was conducted in 2002 using the methodology of score based ranking of rural
households for which 13 socio-economic parameters were used on the recommendation of
an Expert Group constituted by the Ministry of Rural Development.
The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Swarnjayanti Gram
Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)/ National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Indira Awaas
Yojana (IAY), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the Ministry of
Drinking water and Sanitation is implementing Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) for
benefit of persons living Below Poverty Line (BPL) in rural areas of the country including
BPL farmers. The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)/National Rural
Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) is designed as a holistic self employment scheme aimed at
providing sustainable income to rural BPL families through income generating assets /
economic activities so as to bring them out of the poverty line. Under the scheme the rural
poor (BPL) are provided facilities for capacity building & training, provision of revolving
fund, making available credit and subsidy, technology, infrastructure & marketing. Under
Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) help in shape of lump sum financial assistance is provided to
BPL households for construction/upgradation of dwelling units. Under Total Sanitation
Campaign (TSC) incentive is provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families for
construction and use of household toilets. Under National Social Assistance Programme
(NSAP) Pension/Financial Assistance is provided exclusively to persons belonging to
BPL families.
The Planning Commission is the nodal agency for estimating poverty in the
country. The methodology for estimation of poverty is reviewed by the Planning
Commission from time to time. Accordingly, the Planning Commission constituted an
Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar in December, 2005.
The Tendulkar Committee submitted its report in December, 2009. The poverty lines for
2004-05 as recommended by the Tendulkar Committee at all India level were per capita
per month consumer expenditure of Rs 446.68 and Rs.578.80 for rural and urban areas
respectively. These have been accepted by the Planning Commission. It is estimated that
407.6 million persons were living below the poverty line in the country as per the latest
estimates for 2004-05.
