(a) whether the Government has the data on the number of people belonging to the Other
Backward Classes (OBCs) and Minority Communities living below the poverty line in
the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken for their identification and upliftment?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS & PLANNING (SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA)
(a) & (b): The Planning Commission estimates poverty using the consumption distribution
available from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in its Household Consumer
Expenditure surveys. In the process of collection of consumption expenditure data from
households, NSSO records the social group and religious affiliation of the household. In the case
of social groups there is sufficient number of observations available for all the social groups at
all India level and major States in both rural and urban areas to provide reliable estimates.
Accordingly, based on the latest Consumer Expenditure Survey data of NSSO conducted during
2011-12, the Planning Commission has estimated percentage of persons living below the poverty
line for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as 22.6 percent in rural areas and 15.4 percent in
urban areas.
However, in case of religious groups the number of observations even at all-India level
for some of the religious groups is not sufficient to yield statistically reliable estimates. Hence,
Planning Commission has not estimated the poverty ratios for all minority communities.
(c): The Ministry of Rural Development, through the Socio-Economic and Caste Census
(SECC) has commenced a door-to-door census in rural and urban areas of the country in June
2011 to gather household level data for identification of BPL households. The SECC-2011 also
consists of Caste Census throughout the country.
For the upliftment of OBCs, Government is implementing various schemes such as
National Backward Classes Finance Development Corporation, Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary
Organisations working for OBCs, Post-Matric Scholarship for OBCs, Pre-Matric Scholarship for
OBCs, Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme for OBCs and
National Overseas Scholarships for OBCs.
Similarly, for socio-economic development of Minorities, programmes such as Prime
Minister’s 15 Point Programme, Multi-sectoral Development Programme, Pre-matric
Scholarship Scheme, Post-matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means Based Scholarship
Scheme, Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students, Grant-in-aid to Maulana
Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), Free Coaching and Allied Scheme for Minorities, Grant-
in-aid for Equity contribution to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation
(NMDFC) are being implemented. Moreover, a number of schemes have been identified for
implementation during the Twelfth Plan such as Pilot Scheme for Leadership Training for Young
Leaders among Minorities, Support for students clearing Prelims under Civil Services
Examination, Scheme for Promotion of Education in 100 Minority Concentration Towns/Cities,
Pilot Scheme for Urban Youth Support Lines, Scheme for Protection and Projection of Minority
Culture & Heritage.
Besides, Government has also initiated 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
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM),
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 (JNNURM), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), Indira Awaas
Yojana (IAY), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), etc. These programmes/schemes
are expected to help all groups of population in raising their living standards over time.