(a) whether as per the report of a UN Agency, ‘the global economic crises will push 100 million
people into poverty through loss of jobs and lower earnings leaving one sixth of the world’s
population living in hunger;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has assessed its impact on India;
(d) if so, the outcome thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS(SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 74 REGARDING GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS BY
SHRI JAGDISH SHARMA, AND SHRI EKNATH M. GAIKWAD DUE FOR
ANSWER ON 8th JULY, 2009
(a) & (b): As per the projections by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the
United Nations, an estimated 100 million people are likely to be added to the ranks of those
who do not have access to food. This would leave one in every six persons around the world
living in hunger.
(c): The impact of recent global economic crisis on hunger in India has not been assessed.
(d): Does not arise.
(e): The Eleventh Five Year Plan has set the growth target for the economy at 9% per year for
the plan period (2007-12). In addition to the benefits of increase in income arising from the
general growth process, a number of poverty alleviation programmes, are being implemented
to increase the income of the poor and to provide access to food for all. The major schemes
and programmes in this regard are: National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(NREGS), which provides for at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to
every rural household; the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), which provides food
grains at reduced prices to the poor; the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) provides food grains
to the poorest of the poor families at a highly subsidized rate; and the Mid-day Meal Scheme,
which aims at increasing enrolment and improving nutritional levels among the children.