Question : BPL Persons

(a) whether drought, starvation and poverty are rampant in various States of country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of persons living below poverty line as per the latest census, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the said list is being used to identify the beneficiaries under the poverty eradication programmes;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps being taken by the Government to increase the purchasing power of the people of the rural areas of the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a) & (b): The erstwhile Planning Commission estimated poverty on the basis of monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) as criteria for defining poverty line that separates poor from the non poor. The poverty lines and poverty ratios for 2011-12 have been computed following the extant Tendulkar methodology. The number of persons living below poverty line in 2011-12 State/UT wise is given at Annexure.

The Ministry of Rural Development has also conducted the Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) which provides data on socio-economic status of households for targeting potential beneficiaries under its Programmes. SECC data captures respondent based disclosures on socio economic status of 17.96 crore rural households. Key findings reveal that out of 17.96 crore rural households, 7.06 crore households (39.37%) have reported on criteria that automatically excludes them as not facing deprivation, 8.70 crore (48.51%) have reported incidence of deprivation on criteria enumerated in the SECC (Rural), 2011 and 16.50 lakh (0.92%) households have reported themselves on criteria that lists them as poorest of the poor for automatic inclusion.

(c) & (d): The Ministry of Rural Development has decided to use the SECC data for the selection of beneficiaries under its programmes. It has been decided to use the SECC data for the selection of beneficiaries under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana for better targeting of beneficiaries. The SECC data is also being used by various Ministries and State Governments for identification of beneficiaries.

(e): The Ministry of Rural Development, inter alia, is implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) now restructured as Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) in rural areas of the country, through State Governments and UT Administrations. The objective of these programmes is to bring about overall improvement in the quality of life in rural areas through employment generation, development of rural infrastructure and provision of other basic amenities. These programmes help in increasing purchasing power of the rural people directly and indirectly.


*****