(a) whether the number of poor persons has declined in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) the totai number of poor persons in the country as on March 1, 2005 and at present;
(d) the number of poor persons likely to be out of the 121 crore at the 2011 census;
(e) the measures taken by the Government to improve the living standard of ihese poor
people; and
(f) the number of poor persons likely to be below poverty line in the next year ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE &. TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) & (b): The latest poverty estimates as computed by Tendulkar Committee indicate that
the poverty ratio at all India level has declined from 45.5% in 1993-94 to 37.2% in 2004-05.
However, in absolute terms, there has been a marginal increase in total number of persons
Below Poverty Line (BPL) from 40.34 crores in 1993-94 to 40.74 crore in 2004-05 because of
the 23.02% increase in population. The details of the State-wise number of BPL persons during
the year 2004-05 is at Annexure I.
(c) to (f): The Planning Commission estimates poverty Head Count ratio from a large size
sample survey on Household Consumption Expenditure carried out by the National Sample Survey
Office (NSSO) after an interval of five years approximately . The Planning Commission is in
the process of estimating the revised poverty estimates on the basis of 2009-10 survey data on
Household Consumer Expenditure, which are now available. The number of persons below poverty
line for the year 2011-12 can be estimated only after the results of the ongoing 68th Round of
NSS become available.
The Government has taken various measures to improve the quality of life of the people
and to reduce poverty in the country through direct intervention by implementing specific
poverty reduction and mitigation programmes such as: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
(SGSY), Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission (JNNURJV1), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Rajiv
Gandhi Drinking Water Mission, Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), National Social
of the government which have led to higher GDP growth in the country have individually
and coiiectively contributed to raising the living standards of people over time and to
the deciine of absolute poverty and destitution.